Main Street

Solidarity in the Struggle

By Lynne Bolton — Minnesota

Solidarity. In the labor movement, we use that word a lot. In my job, I use it every day. It has become as much a part of my daily language as “hello” or “thank you”.

On Thursday, June 10, 2010, in the Twin Cities Metro area that word becomes more than just a concept. It takes physical shape as 12,000 nurses from the Minnesota Nurses Association begin a 24 hour strike to make sure that hospital CEO’s put patients before profits, and provide the nursing staff needed for safe quality care.

In early May the Working America Twin Cities office joined over 300 Minnesota Nurses at a picket line in Coon Rapids – to show solidarity.

We joined them again a week later in St. Paul.

Shortly afterwards, we went to downtown Minneapolis, and this time not only Working America staff joined in, but so did passers-by.

Solidarity.

At the same time, Working America began collecting petition signatures in support of Minnesota Nurses as they bargained. As hospital CEO’s get richer, nurses were asked to work less hours, receive fewer benefits, and most frightening of all, have their patient load increased, potentially endangering patients. In the 4 weeks that we asked for petitions, over 3,000 Working America members – folks who don’t have the benefit of a union in their workplace, folks who know what it means to work hard to take care of their families – have said “I support Minnesota Nurses”.

And they tell stories. A member in Blaine told us that he had some medical problems. He said “The doctors healed me, but the nurses saved my life”. A woman spoke of her husband who had surgery for cancer spoke about the lack of available nurses for her husband who needed one-on-one care – because they were understaffed. And then there was the woman who was in the hospital for 4 months. Nurses worked overtime to be with her, so she didn’t have to go to assisted living. These members have seen nurses care for them, so they care for nurses.

Then there’s the member in Minneapolis. A young woman who works as a contract nurse and told her agency that no matter how much money they offer her, she won’t work on Thursday.

Tonight I attended a vigil at a church in St. Paul in honor of those nurses. There were many speakers, who were passionate and well spoken in the defense of Minnesota Nurses. They spoke about how these nurses were taking a risk for all of us by speaking out for patients. They spoke of their own personal stories on how nurses have affected their lives. They spoke of the need for the most vulnerable of our population – those that are sick – to keep their dignity as they get well. Most importantly, they spoke of the need for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with those nurses tomorrow as they walk that picket line.

Solidarity in the struggle.

(If you live in the Twin Cities Metro Area and would like to join the Minnesota Nurses as they picket, please visit the website for locations. If you cannot join the strike, but want to support MN Nurses, please call a hospital CEO.)