MNA Nurses Vote To Reject Allina Contract Offer, Authorize Strike

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Nurses at several Twin Cities hospitals voted to reject a contract offer from Allina Health and authorize a strike Monday night.

"Nurses know what's at stake. Nurses are prepared," Angela Becchetti, registered nurse at Abbott Norhtwestern, said in a press release. "We have to be advocates for our practice, our patients, and for ourselves and our family."

The Minnesota Nurses Association said nurses from Abbott Northwestern, Phillips Eye Institute, Mercy, United and Unity hospitals voted by overwhelming majority to reject Allina's contract offer. They also voted by more than a 66 percent super majority to authorize the negotiating committee to call a strike.

The nurses' union said Allina's proposal shifted too much of the healthcare costs onto the nurses.

The contract for 5,000 nurses expired on May 31. Allina Health gave the nurses what they called a "complete offer" last week and told nurses they would not continue to negotiate, according to MNA.