IAM Healthcare — a division of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers — has called upon Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health and Minneapolis-based Fairview Health System to halt their proposed merger.
The union put out a news release on Jan. 25 — the same day Minnesota's attorney general asked the health systems to slow down the controversial megamerger.
"South Dakota-based Sanford Health has a troubling track record of post-merger cuts and layoffs," IAM's news release said. "After merging with Good Samaritan Society in 2018, Sanford closed at least nine nursing homes from November 2021 to June 2022."
"IAM Healthcare professionals and every doctor, nurse and other worker in the Sanford and Fairview Systems deserve a voice in this process," Steve Galloway, general vice president of IAM's midwest territory, said in the release. "The IAM will stand with our members and these communities to ensure that patient care and working conditions are put first."
IAM's healthcare division represents 10,000 members across the U.S., including employees of Sanford Health.