Duluth Nurses, Advanced Practice Providers with MNA vote to allow for strike

As contract negotiations continue between the Minnesota Nurses Union (MNA) and the local hospital systems in the Twin Ports, nurses, healthcare workers, and Advanced Practice Providers at Essentia Health and Aspirus-St. Luke’s (ASL) have voted to authorize an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike.

This strike authorization comes amid what union officials describe as a failure by hospital administrators to negotiate in good faith. Workers cited ongoing concerns about staffing levels, patient safety, scheduling, and workplace protections. In some cases, union leaders allege hospital executives refused to negotiate altogether.

Three distinct groups of healthcare professionals participated in the vote: acute care nurses at Essentia and Aspirus St. Luke’s hospitals, clinic and hospice nurses at Essentia’s Duluth-area facilities, and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in Essentia’s East Market. All three groups authorized their bargaining teams to call a ULP strike.

Union officials say the vote follows months of frustration. According to the MNA, healthcare workers have faced employer tactics such as information withholding, intimidation, and retaliation related to union activity. Actions the union says violate federal labor laws.

“In over two decades of nursing, I’ve never witnessed a crisis like this,” said Larissa Hubbartt, a registered nurse at Aspirus St. Luke’s, and a member of the negotiating team. “Patients are arriving sicker than ever, but instead of increasing support, hospital leaders have gutted the frontlines.”

Acute care nurses have also raised concerns over proposed reductions to current contract benefits. Meanwhile, clinic and hospice nurses, who recently unionized, are negotiating their first contracts and say they are seeking predictable schedules and fair wages. APPs, who voted to unionize last August, have yet to begin contract negotiations after their union certification, a delay the MNA says violates federal law.

Despite the authorization vote, a strike has not been called. If the union proceeds, it will issue the required 10-day notice to allow hospitals time to make staffing adjustments.

With this, Essentia Health says they will return to the bargaining table with the MNA on Wednesday, June 25.

WDIO reached out to Essentia Health prior to yesterday’s vote. They maintain their staffing is based on patient needs.

“Staffing is dynamic. It changes truly based on the acuity of the patients. And we really try to meet the acuity and the needs of the patient in the real time, in the moment,” explained Tyler Jensen, Essentia St. Mary’s Director of Nursing, “And so while we believe that it’s very competitive, we know that this staffing, it’s dynamic and it is flexible.

WDIO also reached out to Aspirus-St. Luke’s. In a statement, they say:

“[Yesterday], Aspirus St. Luke’s (ASL) beside nurses [were] being asked by the Minnesota Nurses Association to vote to authorize a potential strike based on alleged unfair labor practices at ASL. This accusation and action are without merit, dishonest and counterproductive. Any allegation of unfair labor practices must be filed with the National Labor Relations Board. There has been no such claim filed because there have been no unfair labor practices. Aspirus St. Luke’s is guided by our mission and proud to serve the communities that need us.”

The vote comes as workers at 11 other hospitals in the Twin Cities metro area have also authorized potential ULP strikes. MNA officials say they remain committed to reaching agreements through continued negotiations.