Just this week MNA received what we believe is proof that the Twin Cities Hospitals have indeed signed an illegal collusion agreement. What we believe this means is that the six hospital systems, all of whom are competing with each other for business, likely didn’t trust one another enough to let everyone bargain individually and come to a separate agreement with MNA. So we are alleging that they created and signed a multi-employer agreement that binds the employers together in negotiations and any potential settlement with the MNA. And the reason this is significant is two-fold: First is that months ago, before bargaining even began, MNA asked if the Hospitals wanted to do an “all for one” type labor contract and have all six systems bargain together at one table. The Hospitals said NO to this request, and that they wanted to bargain individually because they said “the contracts were just too different.” (In reality the six “different” labor contract offers the hospitals ended up putting across the table were almost EXACTLY THE SAME.) Second, this type of arrangement makes it very unclear who MNA is bargaining with and who has the power to settle this contract.
You can VIEW THIS PDF for a complete explanation, including the initial story about MNA’s charges, the Hospitals’ uniform response in which they all but admitted the documents do exist but that they won’t turn them over, and finally MNA’s most recent letter back to the hospitals. This was filed back in mid-May as an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Again, this is just the latest example of the Twin Cities Hospitals lying to their nurses and the general public.
And did we expect anything different?
So what is MNA waiting for?? It seems the hospitals have the upper hand in this poker game. . .with cards hidden under the table!! Why aren’t you showing them YOU DO MEAN BUSINESS?? It seems they’ve decided MNA was bluffing about the strike.
Right On! It’s time to give the 10 day notice and walk out. They will never be able to put their cullusive actions in place because they won’t have time to hire a consultant to oversee the consultants they have already hired. Good God it will delicious mayhem!
Time for the Twin Cities hospitals to hire the 12,000 nurses to replace us!
Dave Cress will really have a fit when he has to forfeit the down payment on his new priviate golfstream jet. And will turn red then green when he has to stop the construction of the new corporate retreat center in the Tetons.
One consolation, he still has his 14% wage increase this year.
IS THERE A STRIKE DATE SET? AN EMAIL CAME FROM MNA REP TODAY SAYING YOU WERE KEEPING THE DATE A “SECRET”. WE NEED TO KNOW. GET THIS CONTRACT SETTLED NOW!
Kassie,
It is obvious from your posts you are frustrated and perhaps scared. If you need more information and reassurance you really need to go and find one of your negotiators, for whichever hospital you are from. Yes, they are keeping the date a secret. MNA has explained many times that when the time is right, we will get the information. I want this contract settled as much as you do, and maybe more as I have choices to make about my life–my entrire life–based on the outcome, but you appear to be angry with everyone. Did you realize that typing in all capital letters means you are yelling? If you are not yelling through the blogs, then I suggest you fix that. If you are yelling, you are yelling at the wrong people. Go find your negotiators, get your questions answered and stop worrying about rumors. One day now is no differnt than 1 day 3 weeks from now, although I get the feeling you have made your decision, and if that is true, what is the point of getting all upset.
“KASSIE” is also “Wildfox” who horribly bashes nurses in all caps at the Star Trib. She outed herself by posting the same at both places. She is NOT a nurse, claims to be a lab tech or something. Now she is here spying and pretending to be a nurse. When you see these posts, be very sceptical. It’s done in political campaigns all the time, so I am used to it. But if you are not into politics, you may think they are real. Also note Maureen Schriner’s thesis was on how to manipulate the Internet in public relations. I have no doubt part of her job is getting a bunch of goons to sit in a basement and post garbage. Nurses, just beware. Not all that glimmers is gold.
Please give your first & last name and what hospital you work at! The TCH are not being transparent and so we need to. Besides to my way of thinking if you don’t give your name you just might be one of them or someone else who doesn’t want to see the union get what we deserve! I would suggest that the union supporters not even read any blog were the writer isn’t willing come clean!
TO: KASSIE! KASSIE! KASSIE!
YOU REALLY ARE STARTING TO SOUND LIKE YOU’RE A SQUIRREL THAT JUST LOST THEIR NUT! WHY DON’T YOU GO LOOK FOR IT AND LEAVE US ALONE FOR AWHILE?
To help clarify any questions: The ULPs were filed before the vote on the 19th with what MNA and our attorneys believed to be substantial evidence of illegal collusion. The “proof” referred to here is pretty rock solid new evidence that will be very hard for the hospitals to dispute!
In January MNA did ask the hospitals about multi-employer bargaining and they refused the request. There is a legal difference between collaboration and collusion. The hospitals cannot have any type of agreement amongst themselves that any contract agreement at a bargaining table is contingent upon reaching the same or similar agreement at another table.
Clear as mud? I know it is very confusing. Just take this all as good news.
Also: What is illegal about the employers’ behavior is that they entered into a binding agreement with one-another that restricts and or limits their individual ability to bargain with us at any singular table. Thus, we don’t know who the decision maker is at any given table for the employer.
The legal difference between collusion and coordination is the important point here. The employer is not denying collaboration but isnt admitting collusion. (they are also not denying it.)
We did file the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the original evidence of the employers admittal to the charge at one of the bargaining tables; and since then have recieved more evidence to reinforce our claim.
We hope this is helpful!
Again–IS THERE A STRIKE DATE????? There has been no 10-day notice given yet at this time, correct?? So, what happens on June 1 then? Is the current contract going to be extended or what????
No strike announced yet. 10 day notice not given yet. On June 1st go to work if scheduled and the same on the 2nd and 3rd and so until it is announced that there will be a strike. Our current contract language is still in effect, except the no lockout and strike language, until new contract is ratified.
MNA is doing an incredible job! Smart strategy at every turn! Keep the strike date secret, it’s ok with me. Don’t accept the extension, I want the option of a strike, it’s the only way they will listen to us. I’m ready to roll to the picket lines when ever I get the call. Some of the whiney, chicken-little hysteria from some makes me wonder how they function as RN’s. You need a backbone for this job!
and a little compassion. We don’t know how this strike could impact our fellow nurse. Some of us are single parents living paycheck to paycheck for the most part or maybe their husband is out of work & your fellow nurse has the burden of keeping a roof over her families head & food in their stomach. There is nothing wrong with wanting to know what the plan is not to mention our right. Wasn’t it our vote that brought us this point.
I’ve read one to many of these message where one nurse is attacking the other. We’re not the enemy. I thought we were on the same side.
Kassie….Please quit shouting in your replies. Frankly I’m tired of your mantra: “settle this now” What do you think they’re trying to do Kassie? The rest of us are ready for this strike to happen why aren’t you? If missing potentially one day to one week of pay is going to make you “lose your house” you have bigger issues than contract negotiations. quit the negative talk.
Holy schlamoly…..wow.
I am at the bargaining table at Methodist and we know they don’t tell the truth. Management sends out the negotiation updates and it is so twisted I can’t believe I was at the same table.
They didn’t think we would strike in this ecomomy, well guess again,never underestimate the power of organized nurses!
They need to listen and hear us roar.
This last attempt to extend our contract until June 30 is pathetic, do they think we can’t read between the lines, more lies.
Hang in there and thanks for the support.
Back when they decided to bargain each hospital separately, they thought it would fracture and weaken us. Thinking each hospital team would settle for piddly crumbs in our contract. That didn’t work, so they pledged a double secret oath to dole out the same crumbs. Well, TCH, I gotta ask:
WHOSE YOUR DADDY NOW?
Is it just me or has the employer been hit in the head with a stupid stick? I mean they all send MNA the same letter, with one of the paragraphs EXACTLY the same, stating that they are not in collusion with each other…they just proved they are doing what they said they aren’t doing. As time goes on I really wonder who are these people running these hospitals, do they actually have a brain? Its like the 3 stooges are running the negotiations on their end. How do you negotiate with the 3 stooges?
Hey gang…thanks for all the hard work. Go ahead and keep that date a secret…I don’t mind but PLEASE don’t allow a contract extension…it seems that then we are bluffing…and I am SO not bluffing here! Thanks again!
MBRN: Its a secret, but since no one is listening….I’ll tell you. During the next new moon, turn your radio to the pre-arranged station. Listen for the song “Blue Moon” dedicated to “Shorty in Coon Rapids”. After the song ends, syncronize your watch to 0300. We meet at the safe house @ dawn. Await further instructions there.
Beaney, You are tooooooooooooo cute. That just made me giggle and laugh and I really needed a good laugh right about now. GO MNA RNs!
Kassie, you sound hysterical. It makes you sound like a complete nut and a questionable nurse. Please knock it off.
Nurses,
You are fighting a battle that should be done by your state lawmakers not your paychecks!
In Californian we have mandatory staffing. It is a state law enacted a few years ago. Hospitals really do make an effort to follow it. Yes, there are emergencies when the ratios are not met. However, in general there is a huge attempt to meet the ratios.
Is the union going to police the ratios?
Take it to your state. Let your nurses association to argue about other things.
Re: Karen from CA
Actually, yes, we the union do police our ratios in our hospitals. Not only do we have state law, we have the same language written into our contracts. Our hospitals have Professional Practice Committees who can bring forward grievances regarding ratio violation. I do
acknowledge that not all hospitals are union in CA. Those that are not still enjoy the benefits that we have secured into law. It was our union, Registered Nurses, who wrote the law and allied with law makers who championed our cause.
Will a one-day strike be enough? I feel a little clueless about the process. Could we be informed of potential scenarios? New to working with a union, but happy to about having its support! sm
What’s the thing with the strike date being secret? Doesn’t MNA have to file a 10 day notice prior to the strike? So doesn’t that mean we will all (hospitals and nurses) have 10 days notice before the strike?
A lot of really good updates are on MNA Facebook. There is suppose to be an update at 1 PM via broadcast. There are also very informative posts and references as to the steps and the process of mediation. There are polls and other MNA RNs and our supporters there to encourage us forward. Thank you MNA representatives, thank you MNA RNs, thank you moral supporters!
TIME TO DYE YOUR HAIR RED
and wear red shoes!!! I’m ready!!! GO NURSES!
MNA, you guys are doing a great job. We’ll be here for support.
Bit of a double standard here don’t you think? While the nurses can unite and stand together for their point of view the hospitals can’t?
MNPatient – It’s about who is telling the truth and stating the facts of the situation correctly. The video is intended to illustrate how the Twin Cities Hospitals are continuing to lie to the public.
First I find it interesting that an earlier post of mine was deleted. Did it touch to close to home. So how is it the hospitals working together is collusion and a federal offense yet the fact that CA and MN nurses are both having a one day strike on the EXACT same day is just a coincedence? I do believe that she be looked into and is quite an interesting double standard.
DeletedRN – Twin Cities nurses never said this was a coincidence or that we had never talked to our nursing brothers and sisters in California, who happen to be going on strike for the exact same patient safety issues and pension cuts that MN nurses are. From day one of bargaining MNA Nurses made it clear 12,000 Twin Cities nurses were standing strong and united in our desire to win a contract that improved patient safety and protected our profession. The CA nurses had authorized a strike earlier this spring and asked us when we were going to conduct our one-day strike for patient safety after our May 19 vote. They then decided to make a national statement by having 25,000 RNs all stand up on the same day (June 10) and conduct an unfair labor practice strike for patient safety. Again this is a national issue playing out in cities all across the country. Safe staffing levels are not a unique concern of Twin Cities nurses alone.
To Deleted RN:
We’re glad you were deleted…
Just took a vote… Yep, we’re all glad you were deleted… Too bad you just don’t seem to stay deleted… You just pop up somewhere else. Just like a zit.
I uploaded a YouTube video — Who’s Telling the Truth? http://youtu.be/5ncHHcZJTeY?a
about 21 hours ago via Google
I strongly agree. I’ve had a sense for some time that something was funny. Everytime MNA speaks to the papers or media my suspicion is confirmed. It seems they’ve wanted a strike before day one. Someone is playing dirty pool & I’m not sure I want to play anymore.
and to MNA RN… grow-up
Laura – if you suspect dirty pool & don’t want to play any more just cross the line & care for 7 to 9 pts at a time & let me know how that works for you. By the way, if you had attended any of the nurse meetings held at the MNA office I think most of your questions about who’s playing dirty pool would have been answered. None of the nurses wanted a strike, the hospitals have pushed us into it by refusing to negotiate.
Blessings.
Just wanted to say a big Thank You to the MNA reps who stood out in the rain for hours at the check in tables June 10th who answered so many questions and took the time to update the nurses on the last negotiating mtg. It was so informative and helpful!
THANKS YOU also to the patients, children and friends who walked side by side with us the day of the strike in support of our efforts! YOU ROCK!
I have been a nurse now for nearly 30 years. I have learned and grown from the lives of so many patients that have touched my life. What an amazing opportunity we have as nurses.