1984: Talking about a nurses strike 26 years ago

by Marc Sanchez, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — In 1984, Minnesota nurses walked the picket line for 38 days.

Now, 26 years later, another labor dispute threatens to disrupt health care in the metro area. Twin Cities nurses are threatening to strike July 6.

In this commentary, Curt Johnson gives his thoughts during the earlier strike. Johnson headed up the Citizens League from 1980 to 1991 and says in this labor action "everyone is right."

Hospitals and the nursing industry were heading into new eras, and Johnson believed that the strike shouldn't be thought of in the traditional terms of hours and wages.