They were joined by hundreds of supporters from other unions and the community. View the video.
"Now more than ever, the nurses of Minnesota stand united," said MNA President Linda Hamilton, a Registered Nurse in the Children\'s Hospital system. "We are strong, we are ready and we are speaking with one voice. And today is just the latest example of Minnesota nurses and our unwavering commitment to ensuring the men, women and children we care for every day will be safe."
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| Nurses and supporters lined the sidewalk for several blocks outside Minneapolis Children\'s and Abbott Northwestern hospitals Thursday. Workday Minnesota photos |
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| "How our buildings are staffed really decides what kind of patient care you get - and that\'s why we\'re fighting for safe staffing," said Diane Thielbar, an RN at Minneapolis Children\'s Hospital with 33 years of experience. |
May 6 marked the beginning of National Nurses Week. Minnesota RNs will conduct a second round of informational picketing on May 12, which marks the end of National Nurses Week and is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the woman credited with laying the foundation for professional nursing during the 1800s.
On Thursday, more than 2,000 nurses spent the afternoon walking a four-block stretch in front of Abbott Northwestern and Children\'s Hospitals in Minneapolis, carrying picket signs and advocating for their patients. Politicians, other union members, family, friends and members of the general public also joined the picket line.
Another 850 nurses carried out a similar informational picket outside of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
"The solidarity of Minnesota Nurses was on public display this afternoon," Hamilton said. "Our 12,000 Twin Cities nurses are speaking with one voice, and that voice is all about taking care of our patients."
Related article
Nurses plan picketing as contract talks near critical deadline
For more information
Visit the MNA website to learn more and sign a petition in support of the nurses
Video
Produced by John See, Labor Education Service
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They were joined by hundreds of supporters from other unions and the community. View the video.
"Now more than ever, the nurses of Minnesota stand united," said MNA President Linda Hamilton, a Registered Nurse in the Children\’s Hospital system. "We are strong, we are ready and we are speaking with one voice. And today is just the latest example of Minnesota nurses and our unwavering commitment to ensuring the men, women and children we care for every day will be safe."
|
| Nurses and supporters lined the sidewalk for several blocks outside Minneapolis Children\’s and Abbott Northwestern hospitals Thursday.
Workday Minnesota photos |
|
| "How our buildings are staffed really decides what kind of patient care you get – and that\’s why we\’re fighting for safe staffing," said Diane Thielbar, an RN at Minneapolis Children\’s Hospital with 33 years of experience. |
More than 12,000 Minnesota nurses are in the midst of labor contract negotiations with six different Twin Cities hospital systems. The nurses will vote May 19 to either ratify a new labor agreement or authorize a strike, which could begin on June 1. If nurses do vote to go on strike, it would be the largest RN-related work stoppage in U.S. history in terms of the number of nurses involved.
May 6 marked the beginning of National Nurses Week. Minnesota RNs will conduct a second round of informational picketing on May 12, which marks the end of National Nurses Week and is the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the woman credited with laying the foundation for professional nursing during the 1800s.
On Thursday, more than 2,000 nurses spent the afternoon walking a four-block stretch in front of Abbott Northwestern and Children\’s Hospitals in Minneapolis, carrying picket signs and advocating for their patients. Politicians, other union members, family, friends and members of the general public also joined the picket line.
Another 850 nurses carried out a similar informational picket outside of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.
"The solidarity of Minnesota Nurses was on public display this afternoon," Hamilton said. "Our 12,000 Twin Cities nurses are speaking with one voice, and that voice is all about taking care of our patients."
Related article
Nurses plan picketing as contract talks near critical deadline
For more information
Visit the MNA website to learn more and sign a petition in support of the nurses
Produced by John See, Labor Education Service
More photos