Twin Cities hospital strike approved by healthcare workers

Unionized healthcare workers have voted to authorize a strike against hospitals operated by five health systems in the Twin Cities. About 91 percent of 3,500 members of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota voted in favor of the strike during two days of voting this week, according to a union news release Tuesday, May 15. If the union ultimately calls a two- to five-day strike, it would affect eight hospitals in the metro area. Workers represented by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota include nursing assistants, emergency room technicians, maintenance workers and food service personnel.