The Minnesota Nurses Association has scheduled a strike vote for Monday as a contract dispute continues between hospitals and some 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities area and Duluth.
The vote would authorize nurse negotiation leaders to call a strike following a 10-day notice to hospital employers, the union says.
"Nurses do not take this decision lightly, but we are determined to take a stand at the bargaining table, and on the sidewalk if necessary, to put patients before profits in our hospitals," said Mary Turner, a nurse at North Memorial Health Hospital and president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, in a statement.
Minneapolis-based Allina Health said in a statement that Thursday will mark the 12th time its negotiators have met with the union to reach an agreement, and that it has offered a wage increase of 10.25% over three years, among other benefits.
"While we are disappointed the union is choosing to move to authorize a strike, our priority is providing high quality care to the community," the statement said.
Twin Cities Hospital Group, which represents other medical centers negotiating with the union, said in a statement that it was "disappointed that the nurses' union leadership has rushed into their strike authorization vote and continues to reject our offer of an outside mediator."
"It is important for the public to note: Our hospitals are open and will remain open to serve the community," the group added. "Today's announcement ... does not mean a strike is inevitable. We will continue our efforts at the negotiating table to reach reasonable agreements and avoid any actions that would interrupt patient care."
The group represents management at the M Health Fairview, Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park and Robbinsdale-based North Memorial.
