National Nurses United

6 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 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 M A R C H 2 0 1 4 NEWS BRIEFS MINNESOTA S ome 32 registered nurses at Abbott Northwestern-West- Health Emergency Department and Urgent Care overwhelmingly voted on Feb. 13 for a voice at work through contract representation by the Minnesota Nurses Association. Nurses voted by 92 percent to join MNA through a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. Many of the nurses at the new stand- alone emergency and urgent care unit locat- ed in the Twin Cities suburb of Plymouth have worked at other MNA contract facili- ties and were eager for the same opportunity to have a voice in their workplace in order to advocate for themselves and their patients. "Not only do patients deserve the same qual- ity of nursing care and skill that Abbott Northwestern offers, it is equally important that we as nurses are treated the same," said nurse activist Missy Lu, RN. The facility opened in December 2012 and within 11 months, its nurses contacted MNA to initiate an organizing campaign. With strong leadership and a knowledge- able nurse group, organizing swiftly moved to filing for an election with the National Labor Relations Board on Jan. 24. The successful vote culminated a determined effort by nurses, some of whom had never enjoyed the benefits of a contract. "We are united as one with our fellow ANW nurses and will stand strong together for equality," said Lu. MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, heartily welcomed the Abbott Northwest- ern-Westhealth nurses to MNA. "We are all stronger and patients benefit because our voice continues to grow," said Hamilton. The move signals that union representa- tion in Minnesota is evolving in pace with dynamic changes in healthcare delivery. "Wherever people need nursing care, nurses need the protection of a contract so we can advocate for them to our best ability," said Jean Ross, RN and a member of the Nation- al Nurses United Council of Presidents. Nurses are planning meetings to talk about next steps in securing their first contract. —Jan Rabbers Minnesota RNs at ER and urgent care center unionize

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