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.
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