Twin Cities nurses authorize second strike

A union of Twin Cities nurses Monday voted Monday to authorize an open-ended strike against 14 area hospitals if a contract agreement can’t be reached.

The authorization means that the nurses can walk off the job as long as they give the hospital a 10-day strike notice.

The union said the vote was 84 percent in favor of a strike.

The nurses told hospital leaders last week they will not issue a formal notice as long as negotiations continue and are productive.

“We’re ready to get back to the table first thing in the morning and meet with the hospitals,” said Linda Hamilton, a registered nurse at Children’s Hospital and president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, in a press release. “Our goal has never been to strike — not even for one day. Tonight’s vote was the strongest possible statement we could send to the hospitals regarding our unwavering commitment to our patients and our profession.”

On May 19, more than 90 percent of Twin Cities nurses voted to authorize a one-day strike, which it conducted on June 10th.

The strike affects more than 12,000 Twin Cities nurses.

Maureen Schriner, spokesperson for the Twin Cities Hospitals, issued a statement saying the hospitals are disappointed in the on-going insistence of the nurses’ union to build its entire negotiating strategy on threat of strikes.

“Given that a full-time nurse in the Twin Cities makes an average of $79,000 per year and can gain full benefits for working 16 hours a week, a strike seems out of step with today’s environment and it certainly doesn’t reflect a primary interest in patient care,” Schriner said.

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