Nurses from across Minnesota to rally at Capitol

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A contingent of nearly 100 nurses from all across Minnesota will join forces with RNs from 31 other states to gather outside the White House, picket the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and rally near Congress on June 6 and 7 to call for a new, Main Street Contract for the American People.

National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest union and professional association of nurses representing 170,000 RNs, will propose a program for rebuilding American communities with jobs, healthcare, education and other urgent needs, funded through a fair tax policy targeted to those on Wall Street who created the economic crisis. Nurses will emphasize that theme with a spirited protest at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters on June 7.

The Minnesota Nurses Association, which was established in 1905 and represents more than 20,000 RNs in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, plays a prominent role within NNU. Minnesota RN Jean Ross is one of NNU’s three presidents, and Minnesota RNs Bunny Engeldorf and Linda Hamilton are NNU vice-presidents. Hamilton is also president of the MNA.

MNA nurses will be meeting with Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar in addition to numerous other Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin senators, congressional representatives and staffers. Minnesota RNs will speak to legislators regarding “The $3 Billion Question” concerning the alarming lack of financial transparency involving the state’s HMOs, along with describing specific experiences faced by their patients and families - stories of severe hardship faced in the continuing economic crisis. The RNs will outline plans for a national campaign to promote changes in national priorities in Washington and at the state level.

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