Senate DFLers Support Minnesota’s Nurses in Fight for Fair Wages and Better Conditions

The Minnesota Nurses Association announced this week that more than 15,000 nurses will participate in a three-day strike later this month if a new contract is not reached. If no agreement is reached, the three-day strike would be the largest private sector nurses’ strike in United States history.

In response, Senate DFL leader Melisa López Franzen (DFL-Edina)Assistant Leader Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato)Assistant Leader Foung Hawj (DFL-St. Paul)Assistant Leader Mary Kunesh (DFL-Columbia Heights), and Senator Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) released the following statement on behalf of the DFL Caucus supporting their fight for better wages and working conditions: 

“For far too long, our nurses have been stretched to the breaking point, working around the clock in difficult and high stress circumstances, to ensure patients across Minnesota have the high-quality care they need and deserve. Now, despite keeping patients healthy and safe and getting our state through two years of a very difficult pandemic, they have not yet received the contract that recognizes their skills, professionalism, and sacrifices. We back their continued push for a fair contract that includes better pay and working conditions, and to ensure that the sharp rise in workplace violence is addressed. Minnesota needs them at the bedside and we hope they can finalize a new agreement soon.”

Earlier this year, the Senate DFL Caucus made the “Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act” a legislative priority. The measure would help improve working conditions and workplace safety for nurses across the state.

Senator Melisa López Franzen
Melisa López Franzen represents District 49 in the southwest Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Senator Nick Frentz
Nick Frentz represents Senate District 18, which includes portions of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Nicollet counties in the south central part of the state.

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Senator Foung Hawj
Foung Hawj represents District 67, which includes the east side of Saint Paul in Ramsey County in the central Twin Cities metropolitan area.

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Mary K. Kunesh represents Senate District 39, which covers the communities of St. Anthony Village, New Brighton, Hilltop, Columbia Heights, Fridley, and a portion of Spring Lake Park.

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Erin Murphy represents Senate District 64, which includes portions of the Saint Paul community.

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