“The vote speaks for itself,” said Tee McClenty, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, who is leading the negotiating team for the union. After two days of voting, the strike authorization was approved with 91% in support.
If the union calls a two- to five-day strike, it would affect eight metro area hospitals including: Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Fairview Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis, Children’s Hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Health East’s Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul and St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, and Park Nicollet/Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.
Health care workers and hospitals have been unable to reach a new contract settlement after the hospitals have continued to propose changes that would radically alter how hospital workers are able to earn a family-sustaining income, the union said. The proposed changes would push the lowest paid employees into poverty.
Negotiators representing both workers and the hospitals head back to the bargaining table Wednesday morning.
The contracts cover 3,500 workers, including nursing assistants, emergency room techs, maintenance and food service personnel, clerks, warehouse staff, environmental services staff and others.
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“The vote speaks for itself,” said Tee McClenty, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, who is leading the negotiating team for the union. After two days of voting, the strike authorization was approved with 91% in support.
If the union calls a two- to five-day strike, it would affect eight metro area hospitals including: Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Fairview Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis, Children’s Hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Health East’s Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul and St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood, North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, and Park Nicollet/Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.
Health care workers and hospitals have been unable to reach a new contract settlement after the hospitals have continued to propose changes that would radically alter how hospital workers are able to earn a family-sustaining income, the union said. The proposed changes would push the lowest paid employees into poverty.
Negotiators representing both workers and the hospitals head back to the bargaining table Wednesday morning.
The contracts cover 3,500 workers, including nursing assistants, emergency room techs, maintenance and food service personnel, clerks, warehouse staff, environmental services staff and others.
Related article
Workers schedule strike vote, question banks’ involvement with Twin Cities hospitals