Striking Allina Health nurses are accepting various types of replacement work to earn income as their walkout against the Minneapolis-based health system enters week four, reports the Star Tribune.
One nurse, for instance, helped the local stagehands' union take down exhibits at the Minneapolis Convention Center, did some food testing for FPI Testers and starting giving plasma twice a week at $50 per visit, according to the article. She and other nurses also will take on hospitality roles at the Ryder Cup golf tournament, the report states.
Nurses are seeking replacement work as negotiations resumed Tuesday, the report states. The nurses, who are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, began their second strike of the summer on Labor Day at five Minnesota hospitals — Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, United Hospital in St. Paul, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Hospital in Fridley. Negotiations between the two sides began in February.
A key sticking point in the dispute between Allina and its 4,800 nurses has been the nurses' health plans.
Allina initially wanted to eliminate the nurses' union-backed health plans, which include high premiums but low or no deductibles, and move the nurses to its corporate plans, reports the Star Tribune. Allina has estimated that eliminating the nurses' union-backed health plans would save the health system $10 million per year.
Most recently, the sides have been unable to agree as to the amount of control the nurses wanted over the future cost and quality of their healthcare benefits, according to the article. Striking nurses could potentially lose their health insurance Oct. 1.
That led striking nurses to temporary jobs, while others have turned to the union, which has reviewed hardship requests, for financial support, according to the report.
Some nurses have also considered permanently switching to competing hospitals, which to date have retained the union's health plans, according to the report.
More articles on human capital and risk:
NJ nurses advocate for CDC to study gun violence
Saint Louis University Hospital nurses vote on tentative agreement covering 660 workers
Mayo and SEIU to resume negotiations over food service worker outsourcing plans