Kim Volkart loves being a hospice nurse. She works at Solvay Hospice House. On Monday, they found out there would be a temporary pause of care.

“It was a rough day, plenty of tears, with staff and patients,” Volkart said. “It’s really awful it’s happening.”

Owner Miller Dwan Foundation and operator Essentia Health made the decision to pause the care, in light of the pending nurses strike on Tuesday.

Essentia said they are working to transition the patients to other places, although those who are very near the end of life will continue to get care at Solvay.

The Solvay staff are all part of the MNA, but do not have a current contract. They have been negotiating with Essentia for one. They did file a notice to strike at the same time as the other groups.

Essentia added that it typically takes 18 months to hammer out a first contract, and they have been working on this one for just over seven.

There is another negotiating session set for July 18th.