Minnesota Nursing Accent Winter 2023

MN ACCENT nursing

In this issue:

• Bargaining and Collective Action Updates – page 8

• SANE Nurses Join MNA – page 8

• 2023 MNA Convention Recap – page 14

• MNA Annual Dues Notice – page 21

WINTER 2023 • Vol. 95 No.4

On the Cover:

MNA nurses at three Allina hospitals in the Twin Cities held an informational picket in late October about Allina’s implementation of a benchmarking process.

Minnesota Nursing Accent

Minnesota Nurses Association

345 Randolph Avenue, Ste. 200 Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-414-2800/800-536-4662

WINTER 2023

PUBLISHER

Karlton Scott

MANAGING EDITORS

Lauren C. Bloomquist

Chris Reinke

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mary C. Turner, RN President

Chris Rubesch, RN 1st Vice President

Doreen McIntyre, RN 2nd Vice President

Jennifer Michelson, RN Secretary

Sandie Anderson, RN Treasurer

Directors

Laurie Bahr, RN

Angela Becchetti, RN

Daniel Clute, RN

Heather Jax, RN

Susan Kreitz, RN

Lynnetta Muehlhauser, RN

Stella Obadiya, RN

Gail Olson, RN

Rui Pina, RN

Judy Russell-Martin, RN

Angela Schroeder Malone, RN

Wendy Wahl, RN

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President’s Column

THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME

This is a bittersweet moment, writing this column for the final time as your union president. It has been my utmost honor representing all of you these past eight years.

With any transition, I feel it important to both reflect on the past and look forward to the future. That being said, I’d like to start with some reflections of my time as MNA President.

In the fall of 2015, I was elected as President of the Minnesota Nurses Association. But that was far from the beginning of my journey in the labor movement. When I was 17, I was a nursing assistant in a nursing home. As the night shift representative, my first big issue I fought for was getting a decent holiday meal for the night shift nurses. It may seem insignificant, but we all start somewhere. After that, I continued and expanded my advocacy to all kinds of issues to support nurses, patients, and the nursing profession.

As I stepped into the role of MNA President, my vision was to help all nurses realize how valuable they are to their communities and how necessary they are to improving the healthcare system and society as a whole. That core vision continues to this day. When I was president-elect, I made a promise to start a racial diversity equity task force. At the time, the national AFL-CIO was in town because Minneapolis had been named in the top three cities with the worst racial disparities. Our nurses attended the event and shared their stories of racial disparities in our hospitals. Today, we have our Racial Diversity Committee working to

improve racial diversity and inequities throughout our healthcare system and our union. That work continues to be integral to strengthening and improving our union and Minnesota’s healthcare system.

My presidency began as we faced the upcoming 2016 U.S. presidential election. My first action in my role as president was door knocking with fellow nurses and union allies for Bernie Sanders in Mason City, Iowa.

That January, we also saw wage-only agreements in five of the six metro hospital systems, with Allina being the outlier. This resulted in the six-week open-ended Allina strike. I remember walking the picket line with those nurses. Every day I didn’t work a night shift at North Memorial, I made sure I was out there, showing my solidarity at all five Allina sites. I will never forget the strength, fortitude, and determination our Allina nurses showed in order to get a contract that puts safe patient care first.

In my second year as president, I spent much of my time traveling around the state. Early on, I focused on meeting with state-employed RNs. At the time, we had 800 MNA nurses employed by the state in facilities across Minnesota. These facilities included correctional and mental health facilities, nursing homes, state agencies, veteran’s homes and more. These nurses shared horror stories of working way over their FTEs, of workplace violence incidents, and the abysmal funding that state facilities were receiving and how it impacted patient care.

Late 2017 brought my re-election campaign as MNA President as well as the beginning of the campaign to elect Erin Murphy for Governor. We continued that campaign into 2018. That spring, we celebrated a failed legislative attempt to institute the Nurse Licensure Compact, a policy that would forsake Minnesota’s high licensing standards for nurses and bust our union.

I also began my “Highlight Your Hospital” Tour, where nurses across our membership invited me to visit their hospitals and I tried to make it to as many of our hospitals as possible. The first few months of 2018 brought me to Cloquet, Duluth, Edina, Grand Marais, International Falls, Marshall, Minneapolis, Moose Lake, Silver Bay and Winona. Later in 2018, I visited Aitkin, Deer River, Fairmont, Robbinsdale, Virginia, Edina, Owatonna, Murray County, and Pipestone. At each of these visits, I met members at their hospitals, and they shared with me the issues facing the nursing profession, their patients, and their communities. We talked about ways to address these issues and strengthened our union by getting to know one another better.

As we all know, in late 2018, Walz won the election for Governor. And although our endorsed candidate did not win that election, she went on to be even more of a Champion for nurses and patients across our state.

Next up was 2019. We started the year by turning down wage-only pro-

The honor of a lifetime cont. on page 4

The honor of a lifetime from page 3

posals from hospitals in the Metro and continued to successfully negotiate a new contract for our Metro facilities. Later in 2019, we celebrated a huge win. We welcomed Bismarck nurses to MNA, our first organized facility in North Dakota!

Then 2020. I, along with every nurse, walked straight into the unknown. I was a COVID ICU nurse at the very beginning and our collective experiences will never be forgotten. Because of my position as MNA President, I had opportunities to be on the news, to share what conditions were like in hospitals, what nurses and patients were facing. Many others wanted to speak out, but would have risked their jobs to do so.

In November of 2020, I met then President-elect Biden, and once he took office in January of 2021, I was appointed to his Covid Equity Task Force, on which I served for seven months. As the only frontline bedside care nurse on the taskforce, I became the face of nursing for the nation. It was my duty to make sure that the public knew what was happening within our hospitals and it was my duty to advocate for all nurses and all patients through this taskforce.

This led us to 2022 and our largest contract campaign we’ve ever undertaken—15,000 nurses across the Twin Cities Metro and Twin Ports all bargaining at the same time. We demanded that hospitals put patients before profits. We went on one of the largest private-sector nursing strikes in history. And we won contract language that started to address the chronic understaffing in our hospitals, provided workplace safety protections, and included historic wage increases across the board.

We then rolled into the 2023 legislative session, only a few weeks after our contracts were ratified. We knew that we needed to continue fighting for safe staffing in all Minnesota

hospitals and so we introduced the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a comprehensive bill to solve the crisis of short-staffing, retention, and patient care in Minnesota hospitals. We also fought for House File 402, a bill to prevent harmful healthcare mergers such as the proposed Sanford-Fairview merger.

During session, I’m proud to say we had more nurses at the Capitol advocating for our patients and our profession than ever before. Nurses testified before legislators, we held rallies, we spoke out at press conferences, we stood in solidarity with our allies, and we met one-on-one with legislators to tell them that we must solve the crisis in our hospitals. And when corporate healthcare giants blackmailed elected leaders to stop our bill, we stayed strong and held a two-week long sit-in outside the Governor’s office to continue fighting for safe staffing.

At the eleventh hour, our bill died, but all was not lost—from it we worked with our Chief Authors and nurse champions at the legislature to craft the Nurse and Patient Safety Act, which passed during the final hours of session. In this bill, we won the strongest workplace violence protection language in the country, student loan forgiveness for nurses and nursing faculty, and more.

Additionally, nurses’ advocacy for House File 402 helped it to pass through the legislature this year. We breathed a huge sigh of relief this summer as this bill’s passage helped stop the harmful Sanford-Fairview merger.

This leads to now. As I look back on the last eight years, I marvel at all we have accomplished. Because we have accomplished so much, nurses. We now look forward.

As for myself, I was appointed earlier this year to the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents and look forward to continuing that important work. I am also currently serving as a Vice President of NNU and hope to

become the next Minnesota candidate for NNU co-president.

As for MNA, we have just elected our new leaders. In electing a new governing body, we know there will be many learning opportunities—for new leaders, for returning leaders, and for all of us as members. But as nurses, adjusting to new situations is one of the things we do best. I have the utmost confidence that we’ll all find our footing with this natural transition of governance and our union will grow and strengthen as we move forward together advocating for our profession and our patients.

At the beginning of this column, I shared my vision when I was first elected as MNA President—a vision to help all nurses realize how valuable they are to their communities and how necessary they are to improving the healthcare system and society as a whole. I believe that together we have achieved that vision and we all continue to take it even further.

Nurses, it has been the honor of a lifetime serving as your union president. Thank you.

Mary C. Turner, RN, MNA President

Executive Director’s Column

2024…HERE WE COME!

The end to 2023 is fast approaching, and with it, we are already looking to 2024 and beyond.

In the coming months and year ahead, we’ll be working on building a coalition to talk about safe staffing. This coalition will look at what we’re already doing and what we could be doing to better engage the community about safe staffing and ensure that the public understands what safe staffing means for their care. We’ve already begun this work this past spring by working with the AFL-CIO and other organizations to talk about safe staffing in a political and legislative context. Now, we continue to grow those coalitions and conversations.

With the start of 2024, we will also be starting to lay the groundwork for the 2025 Metro and Duluth contract campaign. As many of you know, our Metro and Duluth contracts often set the stage for our contracts throughout Greater Minnesota, so ensuring we make big strides in those contracts ensures that we make big strides in all of our contracts! We will lay the groundwork for the campaign by re-establishing CATs and setting up structure tests to make sure all of our members will be ready for contract negotiations.

Externally, we are continuing to organize new facilities. We recently welcomed Allina SANE nurses, LPNs in Ely and at the time of writing this, are expecting several hundred more members to join MNA in the coming weeks. We are also working on organizing the unorganized Metro facilities in the lead up to Metro negotiations

in 2025, organizing all residual units, and organizing any remaining Greater Minnesota facilities! There is much to look forward to and we are excited to welcome new members in the coming year.

With the new year, nurses will also be getting involved in a couple key events. First, MNA’s 2024 Day on the Hill will be taking place on March 5 this year. Last year, we had record turnout of our nurses, and this year our plan is to get even more nurses to come to the Capitol, learn about our legislative priorities, and talk with your legislators about how they can support the nursing profession and safe patient care in our hospitals. Sign up at mnnurses.org/ DOTH or see the article later in this issue of the Accent for more information!

A second key event in 2024, of course, the next Presidential Election as well as an election year for members of the Minnesota House and Senate. We must elect candidates who support nurses and nurse priorities like safe staffing.

We continue to add more education opportunities for all of our members— both in-person and online trainings are available. Our MNA Education Department is hard at work developing new classes, and planning next year’s many educational opportunities for all of you. We encourage all of our members to sign up for education events via the Calendar on the MNA website.

With 2023 coming to an end, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about our outgoing Board of Directors and MNA President. Thank you to all of our member

leaders who have served on the Board or a Commission. This work is integral to ensuring that your union is member-led, organized, and continually growing in size and strength.

And finally, to MNA President Mary Turner, we send our utmost gratitude for her eight years of service as President. As a stalwart healthcare advocate, Mary has continually fought for the nursing profession and patient care not only during her eight years as President, but for many years prior. MNA certainly is in a better position because of her incredible work. Thank you again, Mary—we know this won’t be the last we see of you!

With that, let’s look forward to 2024 and continue our work to grow and strengthen MNA.

Karlton Scott, MNA Executive Director

NURSES SPEAK OUT AGAINST CORPORATE HEALTHCARE BILLING PRACTICES

On Wednesday, August 23, MNA nurses turned out and testified at a listening session hosted by Attorney General Keith Ellison on aggressive, abusive, and deceptive corporate healthcare billing practices that can compromise access to care for Minnesota patients.

Nurses spoke to how corporate billing policies and high healthcare prices can limit access to care, resulting in more expensive emergency care for patients later on. MNA nurses were joined at the listening session by concerned doctors and other community members to express their opposition to corporate healthcare.

NURSES SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE PROPOSED HOSPITAL SYSTEM MERGERS IN DULUTH

On Wednesday, October 25 MNA members attended Attorney General Keith Ellison’s meeting to have their voices heard about the proposed hospital system mergers in Duluth.

Essentia nurses expressed concern about the proposed merger of Essentia Health and Marshfield Clinic, and the lack of assurances that services will not be lost in local communities or reduce access to care by moving rural services to urban centers.

2023 MNA LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Each year, MNA publishes a Legislative Scorecard after legislative session has ended to help inform nurses about the different votes and actions elected officials took that impacted our legislative priorities for the year.

As the number of bills that were combined for votes continued to climb, it was increasingly more difficult to “rank” legislators on how they voted on nurse priorities. This, coupled with the disappointing results of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, led us to try a different approach. This year, we have instead published a Legislative Report that gives you a front and center look at MNA’s most dedicated legislator champions and the work they did this year to fight for nurse priorities at the Capitol. The report also details the influence corporate healthcare had at the Capitol this session and how nurses are building power to stand up for safe patient care and the anti-corporatization of our healthcare system.

Scan the QR code to read this year’s report.

NURSES CALL ON MN LEGISLATURE TO ACT AFTER REPORT OF INCREASING ADVERSE PATIENT EVENTS

Nurses once again spoke out after the Minnesota Department of Health’s report released at the end of September detailed an increasing number of reported adverse health events in Minnesota hospitals.

Nurses continue to sound the alarm that there is a crisis of patient care and retention by hospital executives in Minnesota’s hospitals. While there are more than 130,000 registered nurses in Minnesota – up 8,000 from last year – thousands leave the bedside every year due to unsafe and unsustainable conditions in our hospitals, with unsafe staffing being the number one issue driving nurses away.

Information collected from MNA for more than 25 years shows how short staffing negatively impacts patient care and risks patient safety. Many evidence-based studies demonstrate that it is critical to have adequate staffing because it results in better patient outcomes. Studies illustrate that the number of patients a nurse has at one time affects their ability to safely care for patients, reduce infection risks, and ultimately advance their plan of care through to discharge. However, Minnesota nurses keep stating that their hospitals are not staffed at levels to allow them to provide quality care.

To address the chronic issue of short staffing in our hospitals, Minnesota nurses championed the bipartisan Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, a comprehensive approach to nurse staffing and retention that would have established committees of direct care workers and management at Minnesota hospitals to discuss what works best for staffing for their patients on a hospital-by-hospital, unit-by-unit level.

Because of the power and influence of corporate healthcare executives over our elected leaders, the bill died at the eleventh hour.

Despite the warnings from nurses for decades, Minnesotans continue to be put at risk by the inaction of the Minnesota legislature in addressing the crisis of retention and care in our hospitals. Nurses once again called on the Minnesota legislature and Governor Tim Walz to listen and believe nurses on how to address this crisis once and for all.

“As long as the corporatization of healthcare is allowed to run rampant in Minnesota, we will continue to see an increase in adverse events for Minnesota patients and nurses leaving the bedside in droves,” said Mary C. Turner, RN, President of Minnesota Nurses Association. “It’s time for our elected leaders to act, for the sake of all Minnesotans.”

Scan the QR code to read the report from MDH.

NEW ORGANIZING

Allina SANE nurses join MNA

Bargaining and Collective Action Updates

On Thursday, September 21, an overwhelming majority of Allina’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) voted to be represented by MNA.

“The conditions of our work have become unsustainable, as Allina has left us chronically short-staffed, leading to a high turnover rate. This means we can’t always respond to victims of violence, leaving them to either go to another hospital system or wait hours for a specialized nurse to respond. We want to be there for our patients who need our services, which is why we voted to have a collective voice in our workplace by unionizing with MNA,” said Stephanie Gunderson, an Allina SANE RN.

SANE nurses provide sensitive, compassionate, and skilled care to people at their most vulnerable. Due to low pay, long and unstable hours, and the stress of the position, Allina executives are driving caring, compassionate, and competent nurses away from this vital work.

“MNA members welcome Allina SANE nurses to our union family,” said MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN. “We are excited to assist them as they take their seat at the table and have a say in their workplace.”

Nurses will now begin the process of organizing their new union by electing officers and initiating negotiations for a first contract.

NEW CONTRACT AGREEMENTS

Fairview Lakes nurses ratify new contract

In mid-August, nurses at Fairview Lakes agreed to a new three-year contract after four bargaining sessions. Nurses won across the board wage increases of 6% for 2023, and 5% for 2024—the 2025 wage increase will be dependent upon the next Twin Cities metro contract agreement. Nurses also won increases in Charge differentials and Preceptor differentials and added a Float Team differential. They also achieved an increase in tuition reimbursement. Nurses working 8-hour shifts won language saying they cannot be scheduled more than five consecutive days except for holidays and on-call, whereas nurses working 12hour shifts won language saying they cannot be scheduled more than three consecutive days without consent of the nurse except for holidays and on-call. Other wins include better processes for vacation requests, protections from disciplinary actions, more inclusive contract language and more.

COLLECTIVE ACTIONS

“Whatever It Takes for Safe Staffing!”

Nurses at Mercy Hospital plastered signs across the door of the hospital’s administrative offices with the message, “Whatever It Takes for Safe Staffing!” Allina nurses are facing attempts from hospitals to implement a benchmarking process. Nurses know that benchmarking will only lead to even higher levels of unsafe staffing.

Nurses hold informational picket at Allina hospitals in the Twin Cities Metro

On Thursday, October 26, MNA nurses held an informational picket outside Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, and United hospitals. Nurses are speaking out as Allina continues to close services essential to local communities and ignore nurses’ concerns about the outcomes of Allina’s current benchmarking plans.

“To the residents of Minnesota, we will never cease advocating for your safety and that of your loved ones,” said MNA member Jessica Sherlock, RN at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, during a press conference held on the line at United Hospital. “We can’t do it alone. We ask Mayor Frey, Mayor Carter, and Governor Walz to reaffirm their commitment to the ‘L’ in DFL. Stand by our side and hold Allina Health accountable for what appears to be a race to the bottom in Minnesota’s healthcare.”

SOLIDARITY ACTIONS

MNA Nurses Stand with Striking UAW Workers

“When I heard about what UAW workers are striking over, I thought, ‘This could be a nurse.’” Said MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN. “The UAW workers are experiencing the same issues as nurses - skyrocketing CEO pay, workers doing more with less, outsourcing of work, and receiving insulting wage increases for a decade. Support UAW workers. We need to stand together!”

As UAW workers went out on strike earlier this fall, MNA nurses stood in solidarity with them, attending strike lines and providing solidarity support.

CARn Corner

CARN MEETING REPORT WITH GUEST SPEAKER ROSE ROACH ON THE PATHWAYS TO HEALTHCARE JUSTICE

By Naomi English, RN

At our regular monthly meeting on September 13, we were fortunate to have Rose Roach, MNA’s former Executive Director, speak to us. Currently, Rose is the National Coordinator for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer. This group works to educate Labor groups about the need for Single Payer insurance (sometimes called Medicare for All). This campaign has worked hard to make the following gains: holding the AFL-CIO responsible for healthcare (this would involve ‘taking healthcare off the bargaining table’ and aggressively organizing for benefits for all citizens). Also key to this campaign’s success, is building solidarity with other progressive groups and their members. Roach stated that “the AFL-CIO and other unions need to move beyond the resolution phase to the revolution phase.” In other words, we all must become more militant on this, the most important issue of our time.

Rose also described the forces massed against our efforts to enact true healthcare reform. She told us about so-called Medicare Advantage plans, which have some attractive elements, but which only serve to siphon taxpayers’ dollars away from Medicare, thus weakening it. These plans are typically run by for profit entities and clearly do not have beneficiaries’ interests at heart. Traditional Medicare was designed to operate on a 2% administrative margin, leaving the lion’s

share of the funds to provide services to Americans. By contrast, Medicare Advantage plans have higher premiums and routinely deny benefits to enrollees. Further, these plans have been cited for deceptive marketing practices and have been sued by various Federal agencies for fraudulent business practices. These plans use “upcoding” a scheme that allows them to charge Medicare more money for insuring persons with the same diagnoses-it’s all in the coding. Studies have found that these plans have revenues that are 30% higher, on average, than their expenditures for benefits.

We in CARn came away with the idea that we should begin advising our friends and families not to fall for the attractive claims of these Medicare Advantage plans. In the final analysis, these plans weaken Medicare to the point that some politicians may argue that the original Medicare is financially bankrupt and should be scrapped. This would represent a profound tragedy for the Americans who have or will someday rely on this remarkable program. One thing that Rose emphasized: she is willing to present information on this topic to religious, civic groups, and other labor unions and progressive organizations. She expressed great confidence that this campaign is winnable.

COMMUNITY CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF TRASH INCINERATOR

On Tuesday, August 15, community members rallied and spoke out at the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to call for the closure of the trash incinerator at the Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in North Minneapolis.

MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN, spoke at the meeting, calling out the negative health impacts of the trash incinerator on North Minneapolis residents, who are predominantly low-income and people of color.

MNA ANNOUNCES FIRST 2024 ENDORSEMENTS, RECOGNIZING

CHAMPIONS FOR NURSES AND PATIENTS

IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE

Ahead of Labor Day, MNA nurses announced our first endorsements of candidates for the 2024 election cycle, recognizing MNA Champions in the Minnesota House who are working to solve the crisis of understaffing and retention, hold corporate healthcare executives accountable, and put patients before profits in our hospitals.

“There is a crisis of corporate greed in our hospitals, driven by executives who are more focused on the bottom line than the bedside,” said MNA President Mary C. Turner, RN. “Nurses are proud to back candidates who stand with nurses to put patients before profits in our hospitals and urge all Minnesotans to join us in returning these healthcare champions to office.”

To be endorsed as an MNA Champion, candidates must demonstrate exceptional commitment to MNA priorities including solving the crisis of nurse retention and patient care, combatting increased corporatization and consolidation in healthcare, and supporting the rights of all workers seeking a collective voice for dignity and respect in the workplace.

The incumbent House candidates endorsed today as MNA Champions for their commitment to priority issues for nurses and patients are Kaela Berg (55B); Robert Bierman (56A); Sandra Feist (39B); Emma Greenman (63B); Jessica Hanson (55A); Sydney Jordan (60A); Tina Liebling (24B); and Liz Olson (08A).

If you’re interested in getting involved in MNA’s future endorsements, contact MNA Lead Political Organizer Jackie O’Shea at jackie.oshea@mnnurses.org or visit nursescarenursesvote.com to learn more.

About the MNA Champion Endorsed

Candidates:

• Kaela Berg (55B): This past legislative session, Berg was the lead author on legislation to ban captive audience meetings for workers seeking a collective voice in the workplace, as well as a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and legislation to regulate hospital mergers. Berg is a strong public advocate for the need to ensure safe staffing in our hospitals.

• Robert Bierman (56A): Bierman was the lead author of H.F. 402, the new law to provide critical oversight over healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Bierman’s efforts helped to pass one of the strongest laws in the country for the protection of healthcare workers and patients against healthcare monopolies, working closely with MNA nurses. Bierman also served as a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.

• Sandra Feist (39B): As the lead House author on the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the Nurse and Patient Safety Act, Feist worked tirelessly for safe staffing, workplace safety measures, and student loan forgiveness to protect, recruit, and retain nurses at the bedside. In addition to her close work with MNA, Feist sought input from hospital stakeholders and legislators to improve and strengthen the legislation.

• Emma Greenman (63B): During this past legislative session, Greenman authored numerous bills to protect workers; she authored the Warehouse Worker Safety Bill and was a strong co-author on Paid Family Medical Leave and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act. Greenman is consistently among the strongest voices in the legislature against the influence and power of corporate executives over workers.

• Jessica Hanson (55A): Hanson worked hard this past session to advance the children’s mental health bill supported by MNA nurses, to drastically reshape the resources and systems in place to provide mental health services and supports to Minnesota children. Hanson was also a fierce advocate for nurses as a co-author of both the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the hospital merger regulation bill, H.F. 402.

• Sydney Jordan (60A): In a session with many wins for workers, Jordan was at the forefront as the lead author of the Union Freedoms Bill which was included in the strongest labor omnibus bill ever passed in Minnesota. Jordan’s efforts helped to ensure that staffing ratios are now a mandatory topic of collective bargaining for public workers, including MNA nurses employed in the public sector. Jordan also signed on as

a co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act.

• Tina Liebling (24B): Liebling’s steadfast leadership as the Chair of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee helped ensure that MNA nurses’ top priorities, the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act and the hospital merger regulation bill, moved through the legislative process. In addition to her role as chair, Liebling was a strong co-author of both bills and worked collaboratively with nurses on solutions to the challenges in healthcare in Minnesota. Chair Liebling’s work to advance healthcare reform in Minnesota is vital as she works with her colleagues to remove profit driven structures from our public health insurance programs and pave the way for single-payer healthcare in the state.

• Liz Olson (08A): A key legislative win for workers this session was the new Earned Sick and Safe Time law, which ensures workers earn sick time for the hours they work. Olson was the lead author on this important piece of pro-worker legislation and was a strong co-author of the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act, working with other legislators to build support for the bill to retain nurses at the bedside to protect patient care.

MNA NURSES HELP COMMUNITY TO “LIVE YOUR HEALTHY LYFE”

On Sunday, August 13, MNA nurses joined the Live Your Healthy Lyfe block party in North Minneapolis which is designed to elevate the quality of life for residents through mental, physical, and spiritual wellness offerings. MNA was a sponsor of the event, and nurse volunteers provided basic first aid while helping to foster trusting relationships between residents and health and wellness experts.

NURSES REPRESENT AT THE 2023 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

From August 24 to September 4 this year, nurses volunteered at MNA’s Minnesota State Fair booth. Located in the AFL-CIO Labor Pavilion, MNA nurses were joined by fellow union members from across the state, sharing about their collective struggles with fair-goers.

This year, nurses continued to speak out about the nurse retention crisis in our hospitals and shared with the public solutions on how to keep nurses at the bedside. Nurses also engaged with the public to talk about the anti-corporatization of healthcare fight. Volunteers handed out free giveaways branded with the MNA logo and the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside slogan and shared their own stories and some key facts about what’s happening right now in hospitals with fair-goers visiting the MNA booth.

Many nurse-endorsed candidates visited the booth to share their support of nurses’ collective struggles. Nurse volunteers were also visited by nurses, friends, and family members from across the state, showing up to share their words of support and learn about how they can stand with nurses to prioritize patient care in our hospitals.

Overall, the Fair was a great success and we look forward to an even more successful Fair experience in 2024!

2023 MNA CONVENTION RECAP

The 2023 MNA Convention was held at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, Minnesota, where delegates gathered to discuss and debate the future of their union.

The eventful weekend began with a barbeque and some light entertainment on Saturday evening with the band Mixtape Messages performing in Peace Plaza while members socialized.

On Sunday morning, convention kicked off with education sessions ranging in topics from nursing & big tech to moral suffering to anti-racism work. Nurses were able to each attend three different education sessions, learning about the topics that most interested them and earning contact hours in the process. Classes covered were:

• Assignment Despite Objection: Responding to Unsafe Staffing

• Moral Disengagement: Consequences of Toxic Work Environments

• Understanding MNA Committees & Commissions: Use Your Talents and Passion to Get Involved in Your Union

• Lifesaving Care: Protecting Trans Gender-Affirming Healthcare

• Commitment to Anti-Racism

• Protecting Nurses and Patients

from Big Tech

• Using Social Media to Advocate for Nurses and the Nursing Profession

• Anti-Corporatization of Health care: Power Mapping for Victories

On Sunday afternoon, delegates then attended the Bylaws and Resolution forum and the Legislative Forum. The former allowed for delegates to ask questions of any proposed bylaws amendments, resolutions, or main motions that would be up for debate the following days.

During the 2023 Legislative Forum, the Chair of the Governmental Affairs Commission (GAC), Becky Nelson, kicked off the presentation. She began with an overview of GAC’s mission and how this mission is critically important in moving MNA to a power-building model where nurses are front and center in the conversations and decisions that are made. The presentation continued with each of the GAC Commissioners presenting, but not before MNA staff Shannon Cunningham and Katie Kottenbrock shared the 2023 Board Goals and a Recap of the 2023 Legislative Session.

Commissioner Tess Schlicksup presented on the Nurse and Patient Safety Act, MNA’s bill that passed

through the legislature this year. It included comprehensive workplace violence measures, student loan debt forgiveness for registered nurses and nursing faculty, a nursing workforce study, and childcare scholarships for nursing students.

John Welsh shared more about the power of nurses sharing their stories at the Capitol through testimony. Next, Candy Matzke talked about the fight for safe staffing, sharing that 2,606 nurses participated in the legislative campaign--most sending emails and around 560 participating in active tactics. Active tactics included anything ranging from participating in phone banks to attending town halls to testifying at the Capitol to attending MNA’s Day on the Hill.

Marcia Swanson continued with the impact nurses had at the Capitol this year, sharing that our efforts resulted in:

• KNABA passing all committee hearings and being included in both the House and Senate Health Omnibus bills.

• Both the House and Senate Health Omnibus bills passing, including KNABA.

• KNABA as a part of end of session negotiations.

• Our fight for staffing gaining strong media attention in both print and online news forums with over 1,700 media mentions.

And while KNABA ultimately did not become law, Senator Murphy and Representative Feist refused to allow the legislature to walk away from session without passing meaningful legislation for nurses, resulting in the final hour bill, the Nurse and Patient Safety Act.

Mable Fale addressed the impact of corporate healthcare at the Capitol, sharing more about Mayo’s attempts to blackmail elected officials and MNA nurses’ two-week long sit-in outside the Governor’s office.

Ericka Helling continued the conversation on anti-corporatization of healthcare by presenting on nurses’ advocacy on HF402, a bill that would stop harmful healthcare mergers like the proposed Sanford-Fairview merger. With this bill’s passage and nurses speaking out against the merger, the merger fell through this past summer.

Deb Meyer also spoke about the work nurses did around the merger, sharing more about how nurses showed up to Attorney General Keith Ellison’s four public comment townhalls across the state after the Fairview-Sanford merger was announced. She spoke about her experience speaking at the townhalls alongside other nurses.

Wayne Garrett presented on the coalition work nurses did with allies around the merger bill, working with SEIU and the Minnesota Farmers Union to get the bill to the finish line.

Candy Matzke continued the presentation talking about nurse advocacy around children’s mental health. Then Ali Marcanti presented on Paid Family Medical Leave. With nurses’ advocacy and work with coalition partners, this bill passed into law.

John Welsh continued by sharing labor wins for workers across the state including statewide earned sick and safe time, the banning of captive

audience meetings, public employers being subject to card check neutrality, and staffing being a mandatory subject of bargaining for all public workers.

In the second half of the forum, the GAC Commissioners shared the proposed 2024 Legislative Agenda that focuses on safe staffing and the anti-corporatization of healthcare. Delegates then had opportunities to ask questions before the forum wrapped up.

The 2023 MNA Honors and Awards Ceremony and Banquet was held Sunday evening. The banquet began with the announcement of the winners of MNAF’s 2023 scholarships followed by the announcements of MNA’s Honors & Awards Recipients (you can find a list of all scholarship and awards recipients in this issue).

Throughout the convention, attendees also participated in the Silent Auction benefitting the MNA Disaster Relief fund. This year, we raised over $3,250.

Monday morning brought the opening ceremonies for the 2023 House of Delegates. The day started with MNA President Mary C. Turner’s opening address to delegates, which was her eighth and final time addressing the MNA House of Delegates as President. Her speech was then followed by a series of guest speakers.

We were joined by MNA Executive Director Karlton Scott, NNU Co-President Jean Ross, RN, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Bernie Burnham, Senator Liz Boldon, RN, and Representative Tina Liebling.

The Keynote Speaker for this year’s convention was Nurse Erica, a TikTok sensation and nurse advocate. Nurse Erica is most widely known for her viral TikTok videos about nursing and healthcare advocacy. She has worked

Convention recap cont. on page 16

Convention recap cont. from page 15

in the nursing profession since high school and now advocates for nationwide nurse advocacy and nurse-led legislation across social media. She even shared a few TikToks she had made about MNA from the past year, all of which resulted in many laughs, smiles, and cheers.

After the rousing speeches, delegates headed outside the hotel to make a group TikTok video with Nurse Erica in front of Mayo Clinic, making sure the healthcare giant knew of our presence.

Then, it was time for delegates to get down to business and begin discussion and debate over proposed Bylaws Amendments, Resolutions, and Main Motions. A summary of the House of Delegates’ Actions are included on the following pages.

And don’t forget to save the date for next year’s convention! The 2024 MNA Convention will be October 6-8, 2024 in Minneapolis. Watch for details about how you can be part of the activities, solidarity, and leadership at next year’s gathering. See you in 2024!

Bylaws Amendments, Resolutions, & Main Motions

Main Motion M1: 2023 Legislative Platform Adopted

Main Motion M2: House Policy: Review of Resolutions/Main Motions Adopted as amended

Provides more structure for the review of resolutions and main motions.

Main Motion M3: Re-establishing Assembly of Bargaining Unit Leaders (ABUL) Adopted

To re-establish the assembly of bargaining unit leaders to enhance networking and coordination across the membership.

Bylaws Amendment A1 Out of Order

Art VI Sect 4T: Responsibilities

Regulating the removal of elected MNA officials and commissioners.

Bylaws Amendment A2 Adopted

Art VI Sect 4V: Anti-Racism Training for BOD

Setting the expectation that the Board of Directors take anti-racism training within 6 months of taking office.

Bylaws Amendment A3 Failed

Art VI Sect 6D: Meetings

Adding language on the meeting requirements of the Board of Directors Executive Committee.

Bylaws Amendment A4 Adopted

Art VII Sect 1: Anti-Racism Training for Commissions

Setting the expectation that Commissioners take anti-racism training within 6 months of taking office.

Bylaws Amendment A5 Adopted as amended

Art VII Sect 1,8: Commissions-RDC

Per a HOD motion, the Committee on Racial Diversity will transition to the Commission on Racial Diversity, Equity and Anti-Oppression on 1/1/27.

Bylaws Amendment A6 Adopted

Art VIII Sect 1: Anti-Racism Training for Standing Committees

Setting the expectation that members of standing committees take anti-racism training within 6 months of taking office.

Bylaws Amendment A7 Adopted

Art VIII Sect 1,9: Committee on Mental Health

Creating an MNA standing committee on mental health.

Bylaws Amendment A8 Adopted

Art X Sect 3: Anti-Racism Training for CARn

Setting the expectation that members of the Council of Active Retired Nurses take anti-racism training within 6 months of taking office.

Bylaws Amendment A9 Adopted as amended

Art XI Sect 2: Anti-Racism Training for Structural Units

Setting the expectation that Chairs and Stewards take anti-racism training within 12 months of taking office.

Bylaws Amendment A10 Failed

Art XI Sect 2E: Bargaining Unit Leadership

Requiring Executive Director to develop a process to assess health of bargaining units annually.

Resolution R1: Internal Conflict Resolution Task Force Adopted

Resolution R2: Standing with Workers Against Attacks on Political/ Personal Views Adopted

Resolution R3: Term Limits for Elected Bargaining Unit Leaders Out of Order

2023 MNA HONORS & AWARDS

Each year we recognize our fellow nurses and friends in their accomplishments with our annual MNA Honors & Awards. The 2023 Honors & Awards Recognition Banquet took place during MNA’s Convention in October of this year. The following were this year’s honorees:

Public Official Award: Rep. Sandra Feist and Rep. Robert Bierman

The Public Official Award honors a local or state public official who, through involvement in policymaking, has placed a high priority on influencing policy that assists MNA in reaching its goals.

Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award: Sen. Erin Murphy, RN

The Social Justice Award honors the nurse, elected official, or community leader who demonstrates a lifetime achievement of working to better the lives of others by increasing their access to quality healthcare.

Sarah Tarleton Colvin Political Activist Award: John Welsh, RN

The Sarah Tarleton Colvin Political Activist Award honors a nurse or a group of nurses who are role models for nurses because of activities above and beyond those of the general nursing community, further the political presence of nursing, and accomplish public policy changes that benefit the nursing profession.

Mentorship in Nursing Award: Karen Hakeneis, RN

The Mentorship in Nursing Award goes to a member who has shown leadership through mentoring that models values, attitudes, and behaviors consistent with those of our profession, helping nurses reach their full potential.

Ruth L. Hass Excellence in Practice Award: Heather Caven, RN

The Ruth L. Hass Excellence in Practice Award goes to nurses who have demonstrated expert knowledge and practice in their clinical area of nursing and are recognized by peers as role models of sustained, high-quality nursing practice.

Audrey Logsdon/Geraldine Wedel Award: Dick Hebrink, RN

The Audrey Logsdon/Geraldine Wedel award honors nurses who have made significant contributions to nurses and the nursing practice through collective bargaining activities.

Nurse Educator Award: Lori Kirchner, RN

The Nurse Educator Award honors the nurse educator who has demonstrated expertise in teaching nursing and is recognized by peers as a role model of sustained, consistent, high-quality teaching.

Distinguished Service Award: Umu George, RN

The Audrey Logsdon/Geraldine Wedel award honors nurses who have made significant contributions to nurses and the nursing practice through collective bargaining activities.

MNA President’s Award: Doreen McIntyre, RN

The President’s Award honors members who have made sustained and substantial contributions to MNA through active participation in organizational activities. President Turner was delighted to award this year’s MNA President’s Award to Doreen McIntyre.

2022 MNAF Scholarship Recipients

Minnesota Nurses Association Annual Scholarship Wrap Up

By Lori Christian, RN, Chair of MNAF

The Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation (MNAF) Board met on July 25, 2023 to review applications and grant scholarships.

We had 47 applicants this year compared to 28 in 2022. In prior years we have had over 100 applicants to review, but the numbers dropped considerably during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are excited to say we gave out $98,000 in scholarships this year, to MNA members seeking additional education, to dependents and grandchildren of MNA members (Legacy scholarships), and to a member of another healthcare union studying to become a Registered Nurse (the Mary Eliza Mahoney scholarship). The applicants received a letter in August regarding the application and scholarship amount.

MNAF is funded by member dues deductions and contributions from nurses, their loved ones and small family foundations. Monthly dues deductions directed to MNAF are the largest source of annual funding and bring in $12,000 to $14,000 a month. As membership grows so does this fund. Prior to awarding 2023 scholarships, we had about $725,000 in the MNAF fund.

We have made several exciting changes over the last few years. Last year we named the MNA Union Champion award after our beloved Diane Johnson, longtime Abbott Northwestern/Phillips Eye Institute nurse and MNA Chair. We added members’ grandchildren along with children and dependents to the list of students eligible for the Legacy scholarship.

We also have included Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO-an option for Minnesota high school students to take classes in a Minnesota college or university for both high school and college credit) classes toward the requirement that an applicant must have a semester of college completed to be eligible to apply.

We added a scholarship for veterans and their dependents called the 40 & 8 Scholarship. The McLeod County 40 & 8 chapter, a veterans’ group with a long history of awarding nursing scholarships, approached us about taking on their work when they retire, in honor of nurses who were their heroes when they served. The scholarship was named for the 8 horses or 40 soldiers that could fit in a train box car during World War I.

The MNAF Board weighted scholarship decisions on members’ activity and involvement with MNA as a pay it forward, as well as nurses who want to stay at the bedside. The scholarship for a member of another union who is going to nursing school is a popular scholarship.

It’s been exciting to help our next generation. Please visit https://mnnurses.org/resources/mnaf/ for more information and spread the word about the scholarships to members.

2023 MNAF Scholarship Recipients

A list of scholarship recipients are as follows:

Sylvie Monique Goudiaby, recipient of the Mary Eliza Mahoney Scholarship

Vincent de Ruiter, recipient of the MNA Associate Member Scholarship

Lydiah Oketch, recipient of the Cynthia Hunt-Lines Scholarship

Marion Charlie, recipient of the Janky Foundation Scholarship

Inga Knudson, recipient of the Sarah Colvin Social Justice Scholarship.

Recipients of the MNAF Baccalaureate Scholarship:

• Andrew Johansson

• Greta Kiemele

• Brooke Kulzer

Recipients of the MNAF Graduate Degree Scholarship:

• Fatuma Aden

• Andrea Polzin

• Perkaloah Queeglay-Tarpeh

• Megan Schibe

• Courtney Schultze

• Ashley Willette

Recipients of the Member Scholarship:

• Francoise Akufongwe

• Kayla Albrecht

• Sydney Bair

• Mara Bennett-Deiss

• Samantha Ewals

• Chidinma Nwanekpe

• Eznah Ombasa

Recipients of the Legacy Scholarship for children, grandchildren, or dependents of MNA Members:

• Wynter Anderson

• Daelin Baxter

• Sydney Boyle

• Jocelyn Brink

MARY LUDWIG, PERSEVERANCE IN EXTERNAL ORGANIZING

By Rachel Heintz, RN

Mary Ludwig is an inpatient pediatric nurse here at St. Alexius hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota and has been in the profession of nursing for 50 years—five entire decades of caring for some of our most vulnerable patients. That would be an incredible feat in itself, however, this is not what I think of most when I think of my friend Mary. I have had the honor of working and organizing alongside Mary Ludwig for the last six years and words like perseverance and dedication easily come to mind and are almost insufficient when describing my friend.

Mary has been working to organize St. Alexius since the 1990’s. With a failed attempt behind her and retirement on the horizon, I can’t imagine her shock when in 2016 she found out that there was a renewed and strong interest in starting another external organizing campaign, this time with MNA. Mary put aside ideas of retirement and got to work. One-to-one conversations, list work, lunch and learns, meetings, and coffee and union 101 meet ups filled her schedule for years. Unfortunately, that campaign ended in a failed vote in 2017. Yet another external organizing campaign gained momentum in 2018, and there was

Mary again. She saw two failed vote attempts, both only losing by small margins. When St. Alexius voted to become a union with MNA in 2019 and won by a 70% winning vote, I can only imagine the amount of excitement and elation that was felt—I know I was overwhelmed.

That could have certainly been the end of the road and what a great story that would have been, seeing her nurses through and getting a winning vote, but not for Mary. She again staved off retirement and was elected to the negotiating team where she continued to do rounding and list work and organizing in order to see us to a ratified contract, continuing to work even as a global pandemic broke out. Mary is amazing, dedicated, consistent, and one-of-a-kind. I know beyond all reason that we would not be here today, in the midst of negotiating our second contract, without her. Mary has been a member of MNA long before we were even a bargaining unit and even now in her “retirement” she continues to not only work every 3rd weekend in the hospital but also again sits on the negotiating team, determined to make things better for nurses and the patients of Bismarck.

MNAF scholarships from page 19

• Anastasia Carreon-Sorensen

• Hans-Peter de Ruiter

• Athena Degree

• Andrew Egbert

• Abigail Fors

• Serena Guye

• Allyson Hamski

• Kennedy Harty

• Garrett Jax

• Ellie Kuznia

• Elena Linser

• Abigail Mills

• Madison Nault

• Grant Nelson

• Claire O’Loughlin

• Robina Rose Ortega

• Zoe Quiney

• Torie Tevena

• Ashwin Wilson

• Lian Yaeger

MNA Annual Notices Regarding Dues (This notice is not applicable to public sector employees or employees of employers located in right-to-work states, except employees of employers in those states who are covered by the Railway Labor Act or are situated on U.S. Government property.)

EMPLOYEES SUBJECT TO UNION SECURITY CLAUSES

As an employee working under a Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) agreement containing a union security clause, you are required, as a condition of employment, to pay dues or fees to MNA. This is the only obligation under the union security clause. You do not have to actually become a member of MNA. Individuals who are members pay dues while individuals who are non-members pay an agency fee. This fee, which is authorized by law, is your fair share of paying for the benefits of union representation that you and your co-workers receive. Non-members may file objections to paying for expenditures that are not germane to MNA’s duties as collective bargaining representative and obtain a reduction in fees for those activities. This notice contains information relevant to deciding whether to object, and the internal MNA procedures for filing objections.

Non-member fee payers give up many benefits that only MNA members receive. As a member, you will have all the benefits and privileges of membership, including the right to fully participate in the internal activities of the union, the right to attend and participate in membership meetings, the right to participate in contract ratification and strike votes, the right to vote to set or raise dues and fees, the right to nominate and elect MNA officers, and the right to run for MNA office and for convention delegate.

If you nonetheless elect to become an agency fee payer, you will be required to pay, as a condition of employment, an “agency fee” that represents a percentage of the monthly dues for reasonable and necessary costs incurred in acting as your bargaining representative. The agency fee is calculated based on those “chargeable” expenditures germane to collective bargaining activities MNA incurred during the most recently completed fiscal year. Among those expenditures germane to collective bargaining for which agency fee payers may be charged are those made for the negotiation, administration, and enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement; all expenses related to representing employees in the bargaining unit, including the investigation and processing of grievances; MNA administration; and other germane expenses. Those expenditures that are non-chargeable are identified as expenditures for activities not germane to MNA’s duty as your bargaining representative, such as expenditures for certain lobbying activities and to support political candidates. Currently, 13.83% of MNA’s expenditures are deemed to be non-chargeable expenditures. The financial information provided herewith summarizes the chargeable and non-chargeable expenses.

If you are a member and wish to resign from MNA, or if you do not want to become a member, and you object to paying dues equal to the amount customarily paid by MNA members and wish to pay agency fees instead, you must notify MNA of your choice by sending a letter in the mail so stating to the Membership Department, Minnesota Nurses Association, 345 Randolph Avenue, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN, 55102. The letter must include your full name, mailing address, your employer’s name, your job classification, and your date of hire. In all cases, if you are thereafter employed as a new employee by another employer with a union security agreement with MNA, you must follow the above process with respect to obtaining agency fee status with your new employer.

If you submit a valid objection you will receive another copy of MNA’s calculation of representational expenditures, verified by an independent certified public accountant, and shall have their dues reduced to reflect the percentage of non-representational expenditures from the previous year. The current percentage of the reduction would be by 13.83%. This reduction in dues will commence on the first day of the month following the receipt of the objection. If you have signed a payroll deduction authorization card, MNA will instruct your employer to deduct that agency fee from your paycheck. If you have not signed a payroll deduction authorization card, you must pay the amount of the agency fee directly to MNA in a timely manner. This agency fee status will be treated as continuing in nature. Should you wish to discontinue this status, you may do so at any time by contacting MNA.

Non-member objectors have the right to challenge MNA’s calculations of representational expenditures before an impartial arbitrator. Such challenges must be made in writing, explain the basis for the challenge, and be received by MNA within 30 days of the employee receiving the calculation information. Upon receipt of a timely valid challenge, MNA will put the challenged amount of dues in an interest-bearing escrow account. If more than one non-member objector challenges the calculations, the challenges will be consolidated for hearing. The decision of the impartial arbitrator will be final and binding.

MNA Annual dues from page 21

MNA fully expects that few, if any, employees it represents will avail themselves of the option of agency fee status since it firmly believes that all employees represented by MNA recognize the importance of all the expenses incurred by MNA on their behalf in the continuing struggle to improve the working conditions and job security of employees represented by MNA. While it is your legal right to be a non-member and to object to paying full dues, we believe that doing so is not in your best interest or in the interest of your co-workers.

Chargeable/Non-Chargeable Expense Analysis

Before choosing agency fee payer status over full member benefits of MNA membership, read this notice carefully and be aware of the benefits that you will be giving up.

Chargeable/Non-Chargeable Expense Analysis

Fees charged to non-member agency fee payers support expenditures for representational costs such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, grievance processing, union administration, and other matters made by the Minnesota Nurses Association and National Nurses United (NNU). The chargeable portion of the National Nurses United (NNU) assessment is based on an analysis of the NNU audited expenses. Non-chargeable items include, among other things, certain lobbying costs and political activities, as well as costs related to maintaining a political action fund. Newsletter costs are non-chargeable to the extent that the content is related to a nonchargeable activity.

Fees charged to non-member agency fee payers support expenditures for representational costs such as collective bargaining, contract enforcement, grievance processing, union administration, and other matters made by the Minnesota Nurses Association and National Nurses United (NNU). The chargeable portion of the National Nurses United (NNU) assessment is based on an analysis of the NNU audited expenses. Non-chargeable items include, among other things, certain lobbying costs and political activities, as well as costs related to maintaining a political action fund. Newsletter costs are non-chargeable to the extent that the content is related to a non-chargeable activity.

The financial information below summarizes the chargeable and non-chargeable expenses with corresponding percentages for each level.

The financial information below summarizes the chargeable and non-chargeable expenses with corresponding percentages for each level.

Agency Fee Analysis Financial Summary

Source: 2022 Audited Financial Statements

MNA Member Dues for 2024

MNA Member Dues for 2024

MNA member dues will increase from $76.20 per month to $79.40 per month for 2024. Annual dues rates are calculated based on the change in the average starting pay of bargaining unit contracts. If the average starting pay increases, your MNA dues will increase on January 1 of each year. Dues rates for 2024 are based on the average change in starting pay rates on December 31, 2022. MNA dues rates for non-RNs will increase from $26.00-$52.00 per month to $27.36-$54.72 per month

MNA member dues will increase from $76.20 per month to $79.40 per month for 2024. Annual dues rates are calculated based on the change in the average starting pay of bargaining unit contracts. If the average starting pay increases, your MNA dues will increase on January 1 of each year. Dues rates for 2024 are based on the average change in starting pay rates on December 31, 2022. MNA dues rates for non-RNs will increase from $26.00-$52.00 per month to $27.36-$54.72 per month.

Bargaining unit members who work less than 832 hours per year may be eligible for reduced dues at 50 percent of the regular dues rate. Dues for registered nurse members who do not belong to an MNA bargaining unit are also 50 percent of the regular dues rates.

Bargaining unit members who work less than 832 hours per year may be eligible for reduced dues at 50 percent of the regular dues rate. Dues for registered nurse members who do not belong to an MNA bargaining unit are also 50 percent of the regular dues rates.

An Associate Membership option is available for registered nurses who are not represented by MNA for collective bargaining, who wish to have access to MNA for volunteer activities, but with no additional membership rights. Student nurses enrolled in an RN Nursing program are also eligible for Associate Membership.

An Associate Membership option is available for registered nurses who are not represented by MNA for collective bargaining, who wish to have access to MNA for volunteer activities, but with no additional membership rights. Student nurses enrolled in an RN Nursing program are also eligible for Associate Membership.

The annual and monthly dues rates for the various categories of dues payers are listed below. If you have any questions related to your MNA dues, please contact the MNA office and ask for a Membership Account Specialist.

The annual and monthly dues rates for the various categories of dues payers are listed below. If you have any questions related to your MNA dues, please contact the MNA office and ask for a Membership Account Specialist. MNA

1

Source: 2024 Projected

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Connect with your legislators to make sure nurse priorities get passed into law at MNA Day on the Hill 2024! Day on the Hill is taking place on March 5, 2024 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. More information will be available as the event approaches. Scan the QR code to reserve your spot - MNA Political Organizers will follow up with you closer to the event to confirm your RSVP.

Questions can be directed to MNA Political Organizer Aaron Woida at aaron woida@mnnurses.org

Annual Required USPS Statement of Ownership

MNA Visions, Values, and Strategic Pathways

MNA Mission Statement

1. Promote the professional, economic, and personal well-being of nurses.

2. Uphold and advance excellence, integrity, and autonomy in the practice of nursing.

3. Advocate for quality care that is accessible and affordable for all.

MNA Purpose

The purpose of the Minnesota Nurses Association, a union of professional nurses with unrestricted RN membership, shall be to advance the professional, economic, and general well-being of nurses and to promote the health and well-being of the public. These purposes shall be unrestricted by considerations of age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity, health status, lifestyle, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

MNA Vision and Values

MNA is a positive, powerful union of professional direct patient care nurses that advances nursing practice, effective, safe staffing and working conditions, patient interests and works to build a healthy community, empowered profession, and fair and just society along the principles of the Main Street Contract:

• Jobs at living wages

• Guaranteed healthcare

• A secure retirement

• Equal access to quality education

• A safe and clean environment

• Good housing

• Protection from hunger

• Human rights for all

• An end to discrimination

• A just taxation system where corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share

In practice, this means:

1. MNA empowers registered nurses to use their collective strength, knowledge, and experience to advance and enhance safe and professional nursing practice, nursing leadership, and the community health and well-being.

2. MNA promotes effective RN staffing and safe working conditions for both patients and registered nurses in direct patient care, in policy and political arenas, and in our communities.

3. MNA builds its power as a union of professional nurses by increasing its membership and exercises that power through effective internal and external organizing, and member participation, activism, education, and mobilization.

4. MNA actively promotes social, economic and racial justice and the health, security, and well-being of all in its organizational programs and collaborations with partner organizations.

5. MNA works in solidarity with the National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO to build a worker movement that promotes the rights of patients, nurses, and workers across the United States.

Strategic Pathways

MNA will achieve its vision through six key strategic pathways.

• Strengthen the integrity of nursing practice, nursing practice environments, and safe patient staffing standards and principles

• Oppose any attacks on nursing practice and workers’ rights, including any attempts of deskilling the professional nurse’s scope of practice and right-to-work legislation.

Collectively bargain from strength across the upper Midwest

• Organize externally and internally to increase MNA membership and continue to increase solidarity and participation of membership locally, regionally, and nationally.

• Elect politicians who will implement nurse/worker-friendly public policy, including safe staffing and a healthcare system that includes everyone and excludes no one.

• Work in solidarity with the NNU and AFL-CIO and other community allies to advance nursing, health care and worker justice issues.

MNA welcomes new staff

Bill Spartz, Labor Relations Specialist. Bill previously worked at MNA as a Labor Relations Specialist from 2015-2021 and returns with many years of experience in the labor world.

Upcoming Meetings

Board of Directors

Wednesday, December 13

CARn

Wednesday, December 13, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Racial Diversity Committee

Executive Meetings

Thursday, December 21, 4:30 - 6 p.m.

Listen to & Get Involved with MNA Power & Practice Podcast

The MNA Power & Practice podcast is a tool for education, information, and making your collective voice heard as members of the Minnesota Nurses Association. The podcast has several episodes out, with members working on the development and creation of future episodes.

Recent episodes include:

• Understanding Your Weingarten Rights

• Caring for Sexually Exploited Patients

• Concern for Safe Staffing

• MNA Organization-Wide Elections

All members are encouraged to submit ideas for and participate in the creation of episodes. Have an idea or want to get involved? Email power. practice@mnnurses.org

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite streaming service and listen to the latest episode at https://mnnurses.org/news/mna-power-practice-podcast or by scanning the QR code below.