10-day strike notice issued by some Allina physicians at Unity/Mercy Hospital

On Friday a group of over 150 doctors at Unity and Mercy Hospital announced they have filed a 10-day ULP strike notice.

Represented by Doctors Counsil-SEIU, the group said they will strike beginning Sept. 14 and continue through Sept. 17.

“It is the unanimous opinion of our bargaining team that Allina is not bargaining in ‘good faith’ when they continue to deny sick days to physicians and only come to the table with pay cuts,” Dr. John Wust III said. “We’ve seen our system prioritize finances over patient care. Our physicians have earned and deserve a seat at the table when decisions that affect our patients are being made, and we need change now.”

According to the group, they are seeking improved working conditions, including sick leave, time off, and a greater say in patient care. They claim Allina is refusing to provide sick days in compliance with Minnesota state law.

Allina Health provided the following statement regarding the strike:

“Allina Health is disappointed some Mercy Hospital physicians – those represented by Doctors Council SEIU – are deciding to engage in a strike instead of meaningful negotiations at the bargaining table. Strikes do not benefit anyone and have the potential to disrupt care at extremely busy hospitals that are absolutely vital to delivering care in the northwest metro. 

Our next negotiation session is Sept. 9, and we remain hopeful we can reach an agreement that responsibly recognizes the important role our physicians play while maintaining Allina Health’s long-term sustainability and our ability to provide affordable care to the communities we serve.

We’re committed to ensuring safe care continues throughout the duration of the strike. As we get closer to the strike date, we will contact patients directly if there are any scheduling changes.“
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