Minnesota nurses strike
Moody's: Strike likely to inflict financial damage on hospitals
by Annie Baxter, Minnesota Public RadioSt. Paul, Minn. — A report from Moody's Investors Service says if Twin Cities nurses stage another walk-out, the area's hospital systems would likely suffer damage to their finances.
The nurses union is locked in a contract dispute with 14 metro-area hospitals and clinics, and the union's 12,000 nurses have authorized an open-ended strike that could begin as early as July 6.
Analysts at Moody's Investors Service say a strike could hurt the hospitals' bottom lines. Operating margins could suffer from using costly replacement nurses, and patient numbers and revenues could also weaken.
Moody's report says if a strike raises costs even slightly, hospitals will likely see a significant drop in operating income.
The nurses' demands include mandatory staffing ratios. The hospitals say the union's staffing proposal would add at least $250 million dollars to their costs.
The two groups are scheduled to resume negotiations Tuesday afternoon.
Annie Baxter
• ReporterAnnie Baxter started her radio trajectory answering the phones at a pledge drive at KQED, San Francisco's NPR member station, and managed to wriggle her way into an internship soon thereafter.
