Minnesota Nurses Association votes to authorize strike

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) has announced their union members voted to authorize a strike.

The announcement was following the Monday June 23, 2025 vote.

A strike has not been called for at this point.

The union did not release the voting tallies other than saying it was enough to authorize a strike.

The vote was made as the union has failed to come to agreements with hospital groups around the state as their current contract is slated to end on June 30.

Chris Rubesch, RN and President of the Minnesota Nurses Association said in a news release, “Negotiation dynamics are already tilted heavily in favor of Essentia and Aspirus, but Unfair Labor Practices like these can break the scales entirely. We can’t let this continue.”

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The MNA reported acute care nurses at Essentia and Aspirus St. Luke’s hospitals, clinic and hospice workers at Essentia’s Duluth facilities and Advanced Practice Providers in Essentia’s East Market all voted to strike.

If a strike is called, nurses must provide a 10-day notice to employers.

Prior to the announcement of the vote Aspirus St. Luke’s released a statement saying, “Beside nurses are being asked by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) to vote to authorize a potential strike based on alleged unfair labor practices…  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.”

Essentia has offered an extension of the current contract as negations continue, but the MNA rejected the offer.