Doctors Council-represented primary care and urgent care providers at clinics operated by Minneapolis-based Allina Health are set to strike on Nov. 5, health system and union leaders said in statements shared with Becker’s.
The 600-member union includes physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Allina has 12 hospital campuses, more than 60 primary care clinics, 20 same-day and urgent care centers, and 27,865 care team members total.
Union members voted to authorize a strike in June. Allina and the union have been negotiating a first labor contract since February 2024, according to Doctors Council. Allina said there has been “substantial progress on a number of issues” at the bargaining table. However, “the union’s request for significant compensation increases and extreme benefits proposals are simply not realistic or sustainable.
“Given the rising healthcare insurance costs, the ongoing financial challenges for health care providers and anticipated reductions in reimbursements and programs like Medicaid, we cannot agree to a contract that will add significant new costs and will undermine our ability to operate and serve the community,” Allina added.
The union said members are striking “to protect primary care” and contends Allina has not adequately addressed providers’ concerns.
“We do have tentative agreements that we’ve come to that we feel will improve primary care at Allina,” Matt Hoffman, MD, a family medicine physician in Vadnais Heights, Minn., said in a video posted on Facebook. “Specifically, we sought to improve autonomy and control over patient care to our providers…We have important articles regarding scheduling, safety, a new labor-management committee, and also protection against unfair discipline and termination for our members.”
However, issues such as staffing, sick leave and wages remain sticking points in negotiations, according to Dr. Hoffman.
“Allina Health is disappointed Doctors Council SEIU-represented primary care and urgent care providers are deciding to engage in a strike instead of meaningful negotiations at the bargaining table,” the health system said. “The bargaining table is where a responsible path forward for all parties can be found, and we have two bargaining sessions scheduled before the one-day strike is planned to occur.”
Bargaining sessions are scheduled for Oct. 29 and Nov. 3. If the strike occurs, picketing will take place at Allina Health Coon Rapids (Minn.) Clinic, Allina Health West St. Paul (Minn.) Clinic, and Allina Health Richfield (Minn.) Clinic.
