Allina hospice nurses authorize 7-day strike amid contract talks

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Allina hospice nurses have voted to authorize a seven-day strike as they fight for a new contract.

Nurses authorize strike

What we know:

SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa, which represents the nurses, says nurses voted unanimously to approve the strike.

The union says the bargaining unit represents 60 nurses who work at facilities and homes across the metro.

Local perspective:

The nurses previously staged a one-day strike earlier this summer when the nurses rallied in Minneapolis outside Abbott's Northwestern.

At the time, union officials said talks for a new contract had slowed "dramatically" over the winter. The new authorization comes just days before the union and Allina officials are set to meet for another bargaining session on Friday with a federal mediator.

Negotiations have now been underway for more than a year.

No strike date set

What's next:

The authorization does not set a strike date and the union would have to give ten-days notice before striking to allow for a cooling down period under law.

What they're saying:

The union says it is fighting for a fairer pay for salaried nurses and pay on holidays. They are also asking for better scheduling for the nurses who are often asked to work "long, irregular hours."

Allina responds

The other side:

In a statement, Allina Health writes:

"Allina Health is aware that SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa, representing hospice nurses, has voted to authorize a strike. While this vote does not guarantee a strike will occur, it shifts focus away from ongoing discussions at the bargaining table. 

"Negotiations have included the assistance of a federal mediator, and we look forward to meeting with the union on Friday. While we remain committed to providing competitive compensation to all care team members, we must ensure we reach a sustainable agreement, which is best done through good-faith negotiations at the bargaining table."

Health CareMinneapolis