Hundreds of nurses picket Duluth hospitals

Duluth nurse picket
Several hundred nurses in red shirts picketed a pair of Duluth hospitals on Monday, July 12, 2010.
MPR Photo/Bob Kelleher

Several hundred nurses in red shirts picketed a pair of Duluth hospitals on Monday.

The informational picketing is intended to help prod two Duluth-based health organizations -- Saint Mary's-Duluth Clinic Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital -- into a contract settlement with 1,300 registered nurses who work in the city's three hospitals.

While negotiations have been described as amicable, there's still disagreement on the nurses' proposal to include nurse-to-patient ratios into contract language.

Duluth nurse Cindy Prout was encouraged by cheers and honking horns from cars passing the picketers outside SMDC.

"It makes me feel as though what we are doing is the right thing to do," she said.

Duluth nurses return to negotiations with the hospitals Tuesday. The demonstration comes a week after Twin Cities nurses ratified a new contract and avoided a strike by 12,000 union members.

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.