A recent Pioneer Press editorial calls on elected officials to refrain from publicly backing a side in the dispute between Minneapolis-based Allina Health and its 4,800 nurses.
The publication contends both sides should "resolve their differences without elected officials choosing a side and getting in the way."
The editorial comes after some members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party elected officials picked sides publicly, via a news conference and letter to Allina leadership, according to the report. The DFL lawmakers included House Minority Leader Paul Thissen of Minneapolis and Reps. Peter Fischer, Sandra Masin, Deputy Minority Leader Erin Murphy and Dan Schoen and Sens. Jim Carlson, Foung Hawj, John Marty and Charles Wiger.
The editorial states that St. Paul City Council Member Chris Tolbert also joined lawmakers outside Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, saying he was speaking on behalf of "all seven" city council members and Mayor Chris Coleman, "who've all walked on the [St. Paul-based] United [Hospital] picket line with these nurses."
United Hospital and Abbott Northwestern are both affected by the dispute. Allina nurses, who are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, began their second strike of the summer on Labor Day at five Minnesota hospitals — Abbott Northwestern and Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, United Hospital, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Hospital in Fridley. As workers began the strike, Allina brought in 1,500 replacement nurses. No future talks are scheduled.
A key sticking point has been the nurses' health insurance. Allina wanted to eliminate the nurses' four union-backed health plans, which include high premiums but low or no deductibles, and move the nurses to its corporate plans, reports the Star Tribune. Allina has estimated that eliminating the nurses' four union-backed health plans would save the health system $10 million per year.
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