National Nurses United

MICHIGAN M ichigan nurses Association members at three hospitals in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) are united in contract campaigns against an out-of-state corporation. Nurses at the three Aspirus hospitals— Ironwood, Iron River, and Keweenaw—are all bargaining for new contracts as of December. Wisconsin-based Aspirus has made severe cuts to care at all three sites since coming to Michigan, including ending birthing services at two of the hospitals. U.P. residents already drive lengthy distances for health care, and these cuts are causing delays and safety risks because they must now travel even further. Nurses at all three hospitals have held rallies to increase public pressure and advo- cate for their communities. "Both at the bargaining table and in the community, Aspirus keeps treating U.P. res- idents and nurses like we just don't matter," said Sarah Trudgeon, an RN at Aspirus Ironwood and president of the MNA union there. "We won't stand by as Aspirus con- tinues to undermine the health and safety of the U.P. residents it's supposed to serve." –Dawn Kettinger Upper Peninsula nurses unite against cuts by Aspirus FROM LEFT: MNA nurses at Aspirus Iron River Hos- pital rallied to advocate for a fair contract and protest Aspirus's continued cuts at U.P. hospitals. "Nurses are standing up for our patients and our community by telling Aspirus 'enough is enough,'" said Nicole Fedie-Zaupa, RN, copresident of the MNA union at the hospital; Aspirus Ironwood Hospi- tal nurses held a rally to protest the planned closure of the obstetrics unit and support a fair con tract amid stalled negotiations. Since then, the nurses have voted unanimously to authorize a strike. MINNESOTA O n sept. 25, Minnesota Nurses Association nurses from Allina's Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minn. testified at a hearing about their employer's planned closure of their Chemi- cal Dependency Unit. "Closing this unit and scattering patients elsewhere in the hospital will be disastrous," said Laurie Brodersen, RN. "This is a locked unit with experienced nurses who know how to care for this vul- nerable population and prevent relapse. Placing these patients in the hospital's gen- eral population strips away the safety and structure they need, making real recovery far less likely. Allina isn't just shutting down a unit—it's dismantling expertise and trust built over years of care." This latest cut continued a troubling pat- tern of closing or reducing services by Allina Health: • Abbott Northwestern's infusion depart- ment shut down in 2023 • United Hospital's pain center closed • United Hospital's infusion department shut down in September 2025 • Another announcement planning to close Abbott Northwestern's inpatient kid- ney transplant program At the same time, Allina reported $230 million in profit from its Quest Diagnostics venture, partnered with UnitedHealth Group to expand lucrative ambulatory sur- gery centers, and continues investing in executive compensation. "This is the behavior of a Wall Street corpo- ration, not a not-for-profit health care system," said Gail Olson, RN. "Allina is taking public dol- lars while turning its back on vulnerable patients, the community, and the nurses who've given decades to this work. That's not care. That's corporate greed." —Lauren Bloomquist Unity nurses testify against chemical dependency unit closure O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 5

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