HealthPartners workers could strike over health care
28 01 08 - 11:21
Health care workers employed by HealthPartners may go on strike over their health insurance coverage.
A report in the Pioneer Press detailed that over 1,500 nurses, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, lab technicians, physician assistants at HealthPartners clinics throughout the metro area have voted in favor of authorizing a short-term strike.
Bloomington-based HealthPartners has said it wants workers to pay part of their monthly insurance premiums, and it plans to raise copayments on prescription drugs, the paper reported.
The SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, the union which represents 14,000 health care workers, said that many of its members are currently receiving single coverage, meaning that they do not pay anything toward their premiums. Families, however, pay about $70 a month.
Nancy Wickoren, a nurse and member of the bargaining committee for the group told the paper, "We would like to keep our insurance the way it is because we know there are other people in the community who will follow up with contract negotiations after ours and we would like to set some standards for them."
The paper also reported that HealthPartners has said that the strike vote is premature, and the company pledged to work towards a "fair and reasonable" agreement.
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