MINNEAPOLIS — Over 60 hospice care workers, members of SEIU Healthcare of Minnesota and Iowa, began a seven-day strike Sept. 11 against Allina Health. These nurses provide end-of-life care in patient homes, assisted living centers and other facilities.
A spirited rally and picket line was held outside Allina’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Hospice registered nurse Abby McDonald, a member of the negotiating team, told the rally about the problems they face. Because of the conditions imposed by the hospital bosses, “we are exhausted for our patients, we are exhausted for ourselves, and we are exhausted for our families,” she said. “When we work on Christmas, there is no holiday pay, none whatsoever.”
Amy Rich, another striking nurse, told the Militant the main issues are overtime pay, holiday pay and safe staffing levels.
“You’re asking people to show up at a families’ most vulnerable and sacred times,” Jessica Hausauer, CEO of the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, told the press, “and if you’re going to do that work, you really want to be able to show up and be present, and that’s hard to do when you’re facing workforce pressures.”
The nurses are also worried about the future of their jobs, as Allina is in negotiations for a merger with California-based Sutter Health.
Some 150 doctors at Allina, represented by the Doctors Council SEIU, have called their own four-day strike beginning Sept. 14. They’ve been trying to get a contract for more than three years.