Right to Work
“Right to Work” constitutional amendments that would weaken unions and undermine workers’ rights have been introduced at the Capitol. These bills are unnecessary, unsafe and unfair. They will not create jobs and will not help our economy. They will make all of our families unsafe if professionals like nurses, firefighters and police officers have their voices silenced in the workplace. Minnesota has the third highest quality of life in the United States. We have a far lower rate of unemployment than the national average. States that already have Right to Work laws have lower qualities of life and higher unemployment than states with strong collective bargaining rights. Learn more at www.mnnurses.org/rtw.

Action: After overwhelming turnout at the last briefings, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation is holding several more Right to Work briefings all over the metro area for any interested union members:

• Saturday, February 18, 10:00 AM

CWA 7200 Hall, 3521 East Lake Street, Minneapolis

• Thursday, February 23, 6:30 PM

Spring Lake Park VFW, 8100 Northeast Pleasant View Drive, Spring Lake Park

• Thursday, March 1, 5:30 PM
  Discovery Center, Board Room, Door #2
  301 2nd Ave NE, Buffalo
• Saturday, March 3, 10 AM
  Mound Depot
  Mound Bay Park, 5801 Bartlett Blvd, Mound
• Thursday, March 8, 6:30 PM
  Golden Valley VFW
  7775 Medicine Lake Road, Golden Valley
• Saturday, March 10, 10:00 AM
  Boilermakers Local 647
  9459 NW Hwy. 10, Suite 105, Ramsey
• Thursday, March 15, 6:30 PM
  Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota
  3200 Main St, Suite 360 (Wells Fargo Bank Building), Coon Rapids
• Tuesday, March 20, 6:30 PM
  Chaska American Legion
  102 West Fourth Street, Chaska
• Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 PM
  Minnetonka High School
  18301 Hwy. 7, West Entrance, Minnetonka

HMO Transparency Hearing

This week the two House Health and Human Services Committees met jointly for a hearing to gather information about the state’s payment of nearly $4 billion to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) for their management of Minnesota’s public health care programs.  One bill addressing the lack of oversight of the program has been introduced, and more may be coming.

MNA has been following this issue for a year, because we are concerned that when the state privatized our public health programs back in the 1990s, we lost the ability to oversee the program funded by taxpayer dollars. There is so little oversight of the HMOs now that there is a federal investigation into Minnesota’s HMO payments.

Pioneer Press article: Feds Investigate state over Medical Assistance program

Star Tribune editorial:  Is state overpaying health plans? Federal investigation adds urgency to HMO transparency push.

Felony Criminal Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult

MNA worked closely in the past weeks with Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Health and Human Services Reform Chair Steve Gottwalt, other health care unions, and long term care facilities to come to a compromise over strengthening the punishment for those guilty of criminally neglecting a vulnerable adult.  The compromise was an effort between all parties to protect the rights of workers in cases of understaffing, while giving the county attorney the right to charge someone who intends to neglect a vulnerable adult with a felony as opposed to a gross misdemeanor.  Minnesota is the first state to make this crime a felony while protecting the rights of the workers.

MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.
  State Capitol and State Office Building, St. Paul

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.  

Gov. Mark Dayton accepting an award from MNA President Linda Hamilton during the 2011 MNA Convention in St. Paul.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, 651-414-2863

ST. PAUL (February 15, 2012) – As Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton delivered his State of the State speech Wednesday, the leader of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) echoed her organization’s support for the Governor’s top priorities – jobs, education and reform.

“What our friends, neighbors and patients do need are good-paying jobs, access to affordable healthcare and great education for our children,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, BSN. “What they don’t need is a slew of divisive constitutional amendments that do nothing to address the core needs of Minnesotans across the state. We’re glad the Governor continues to focus on what the vast majority of everyday people in our state want and need.”

Hamilton said MNA nurses continue to advocate both at the bedside and in the legislature on issues that directly impact their patients and their profession – especially safe staffing levels.

“We realize the Twin Cities’ nurses strike during the summer of 2010 shone a white hot spotlight on the issue of unsafe staffing,” Hamilton said. “Our nurses see, hear and feel on a daily basis the negative impact unsafe staffing levels have on patients, families and caregivers. We’re going to continue to fight so that more hospital executives and administrators work with us to put patient safety ahead of corporate profits.”

Formed in 1905, the Minnesota Nurses Association represents more than 20,000 RNs in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. MNA is also a founding member of National Nurses United (NNU), which has more than 175,000 members and is the largest RN union in the United States.

Reblogged from Operating Engineers Local 49:

What should be done about unions? What have unions ever done for us? Maternity leave Sick leave Weekends off Overtime pay Child Labor laws Health insurance coverage Workplace safety laws Military leave Paid holidays The list goes on. If you want to read a longer list, not just the highlights, it’s been compiled by same people who brought that MoveOn video to our attention, the New Hampshire Labor News, for their recent article: “What Have American Unions Ever Done For Us?”

Found this video really funny (and true!) about all the amazing benefits Labor Unions have brought to the American workforce. Easy to forget all that Unions have done.

MNA President Linda Hamilton with some of our amazing state-employed MNA RNs!

So proud of our MNA State Nurses! Did you see this item from the Governor’s Office? Here’s the press release:

St. Paul, MN – Today the Minnesota State Employees Combined Charities Campaign presented their 2011 donations in support of Minnesota charities.  The donations, totaling $842,639.13, will benefit 39 charitable federations working in communities across the state to support vital health, education, arts, and social service programs. The campaign consists of 2,320 state employees that chose to donate a portion of their paycheck towards a charitable organization via payroll deduction.

Lt. Governor Prettner Solon, the honorary chairperson of the campaign, presented the ‘big check’ to ten federation representatives at an event this morning in the Governor’s reception room.

“I am so proud of our state employee workforce.” Lt. Governor Prettner Solon said, “The willingness to give their time, energy, and a portion of their paycheck to these wonderful organizations is an example of their extraordinary commitment to serve the public and to make Minnesota a better place.”

The event also recognized four state employees with individual ‘Hero Awards’ for their commitment to the campaign. Wendy Legge, Department of Labor and Industry, Sally Kupferschmidt-Minnesota State Retirement Services, Ben Benson-Department of Administration and Paul Zipoy-Department of Revenue were each recognized for their efforts; going above and beyond the call of duty and making a significant difference during the 2011 campaign.  

Please call or email the management and tell them to “stop disrespecting the workers and hurting the community by turning living wage jobs into low wage jobs”.

David Miller@ 651-228-3801 dmiller@saintpaulhotel.com
Bill Morrissey @651-332-7665 bmorrissey@morrisseyhospitality.com

Event: PLEASE JOIN THE MEMBERS OF UNITE HERE LOCAL 17 IN FRONT OF THE SAINT PAUL HOTEL at NOON on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16th.

Reblogged from The Same Rowdy Crowd:

On the abortion issue, one group of advocates says “Right to Life,” the other side says “Pro-Choice” and the news media usually opts for the more neutral term, calling it a debate over “abortion rights,” or describing the protagonists as being “anti-abortion” and “pro-abortion rights.” Fair enough. On that issue, reporters have done a pretty good job of striking a balance on the language they use. But on the top labor issue of the day, one side says “Right to Work,” the other side …

A Great – and important! – point made here about how the media is framing the so-called “Right to Work” issue. Must read!

MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)

Today’s Story: I don’t feel patients are being safely monitored on this unit. With all the cardiac, respiratory, fall risk, and incontinence issues that the majority of  cardiacpatients have; it’s not safe for one nurse to adequately monitor 6 patients. I wouldn’t want my family or loved ones to be there, and I can’t recommend our unit to anyone that asks how the care is at [my hospital].

More information:

• Nurses: Report Unsafe Staffing
• Learn more about Unsafe Staffing and its impact on patients

Right to Work
Senator Dave Thompson (R-36, Lakeville) and Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-28B, Mazeppa) introduced a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment.  To read these bills and follow their progress, visit the bill status pages on the Legislature’s website: Senate File 1705, House File 2140.

This legislation, backed by employers, will weaken unions, cut pay and benefits, and worst of all, will take away nurses’ power to advocate for our patients’ safety and our practice. “Right to Work” doesn’t create any jobs, and workers in Right to Work states actually earn significantly less than workers in collective bargaining states. Learn more about this legislation at the MNA website. MNA is continuing to meet with legislators of both parties to educate them on the disadvantages of passing this amendment.

Action: After overwhelming turnout at the last briefing, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation is holding two more Right to Work briefings for all interested union members:

• Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10:00 AM

CWA 7200 Hall, 3521 East Lake Street, Minneapolis

• Thursday, February 23, 6:30 PM

Spring Lake Park VFW, 8100 Northeast Pleasant View Drive, Spring Lake Park

Action: Keep talking to your fellow nurses about the threat of Right to Work, especially the effect it will have on nursing practice and patient safety. Please call the political organizer for your region to let them know how your conversations are going. We are looking for feedback from members on the best ways to talk about this issue with other nurses, so your input is important.

• Northern Minnesota: Grant Bendix, 651-414-2830, grant.bendix@mnnurses.org
• Metro area: Geri Katz, 651-414-2855, geri.katz@mnnurses.org
• Southern Minnesota: Julia Donnelly, 651-414-2833, Julia.donnelly@mnnurses.org

HMO Transparency Update

Due to whistleblower Dave Feinwachs, last session we learned a lot about the Health Maintenance Organizations’ “black box,” the $3 billion in taxpayer dollars (now up to $4 billion) they receive from the state every year to administer public health care programs. The HMOs do not have to report how they spend this money, or what percentage goes to provide health care versus administrative costs, bonuses and marketing.

Legislators are currently crafting a bill that would address this issue. There will be an informational hearing on Tuesday, February 14. No public testimony will be taken at this hearing, but there will be opportunities later in the session. If you are interested in attending:

When:             Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – 12:30-4:00 pm
Where:            Room 200 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul

Felony Criminal Neglect

SF 1586 would make it a felony to intentionally neglect a vulnerable adult.  MNA supports this concept in principle, but we are concerned that the language in its current form would have unintended punitive consequences for nurses facing situations of short staffing.  We are continuing to meet with the bill authors and stakeholders to strengthen the language and protect nurses when the neglect is due to issues regarding staffing, supervision or institutional policies beyond the nurse’s control.

MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits and Action, Start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.
  State Capitol and State Office Building, St. Paul

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.

Precinct Caucus Update

On Tuesday, Minnesota’s political parties held precinct caucuses, and many of you have reported attending and moving resolutions concerning Right to Work and other important statewide issues. Thanks to everyone who took the time to participate. We heard reports back from many nurses who attended DFL and Republican caucuses. If you have an experience about your caucus you’d like to share, please email geri.katz@mnnurses.org.

MNA Nurses fill out hundreds of Concern For Safe Staffing forms online each month. The story below is just one example of how unsafe staffing conditions inside Minnesota hospitals continue to have negative – and sometimes even deadly – consequences for patients and nurses. (Note: Due to HIPAA privacy laws for patients and concerns for potential workplace retaliation by employers against RNs, we do not identify the specific nurse and/or patient(s) involved in each story in this space.)

Today’s Story: Charge nurse had 3 moms and 2 babies; one requiring constant help with newborn cares and breastfeeding. One staff nurse had 5 moms and 5 babies, including a new Caesarean birth and a new vaginal delivery with significant postpartum hemorrhage. Another nurse had 5 moms and 5 babies-  2 mothers requiring constant help with breastfeeding and 2 babies requiring bottle feeding every 2-3 hours. One nurse had 4 moms and 4 babies including a new C-section birth with MRSA precautions and a non-English speaking new vaginal delivery. Nursery RN was a  casual staff member with 3 babies under her care most of the shift.

More information:

• Nurses: Report Unsafe Staffing
• Learn more about Unsafe Staffing and its impact on patients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Media Contact:                      Jan Rabbers  (612) 860-6658 or jan.rabbers@mnnurses.org

Mercy Hospital (Moose Lake) RNs Issue Concerns About Merger Negotiations

(Moose Lake, MN – February 8, 2012) As Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake moves toward a possible merger with Duluth-based Essentia Health, registered nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association met last week to discuss concerns regarding impact on the community and on the work environment at the hospital.

The meeting highlighted the nurses’ apprehensions about the overall process of merger negotiations, especially noting the lack of advice and involvement of patient care providers, patients, and potential patients.

The group unanimously drafted and approved this statement reflecting the nurses’ issues.

“Mercy hospital has been a part of this community for decades, and the registered nurses at Mercy are proud to be a part of the outstanding patient care that patients have come to expect. We would like to see Mercy remain a place for our neighbors to receive high quality patient care for decades to come.

“The laws and ethics of our profession direct us to be mandated patient advocates.  From the patient room to the boardroom, we will advocate for our patients, our community, and our hospital. As such, even though we do not have a firm position on the outcome of merger talks, we cannot in good faith, support any merger or affiliation unless the following issues are answered in a way that benefits our community and our patients:

1. What will be the composition of the hospital governing board, and how will community members have influence regarding the future operation of our hospital?
2. Why have patient care providers (doctors and nurses) been shut out of the negotiating process?
3. Will Essentia commit to, at a minimum, maintaining the level of services provided at Mercy?
4. What guarantees would be in place to protect employees and maintain existing employee contracts?
5. What are the specific details regarding the future of local community doctors?
6. Why, in detail, does Mercy need to affiliate in light of a history of profitable operation?
7. What capital and operational investments will be made by Essentia to provide for the hospital; for the community?

“We value the people of this community.   We hear the concerns of patients and their families every day on the hospital floor.  We implore our hospital board to take the time as we do to listen to their input and advice.  Then communicate, respectfully and consistently, with community members before any action is taken about the details of this process.”

Respectfully submitted,
The Mercy Hospital Registered Nurses, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association