MNA welcomes 600+ new members in historic first contracts

By Lauren Bloomquist

National Nurse magazine - July | Aug | Sept 2026 Issue

The Minnesota Nurses Association is celebrating the ratification of first contracts at two new bargaining units, welcoming more than 600 new members.   

Maple Grove Hospital 

In late July, 600 nurses at North Memorial Maple Grove Hospital in Maple Grove, Minn. ratified a historic three-year contract that strengthens wages, retirement security, affordable health insurance,  and workplace protections while providing stability for nurses and patients as the hospital prepares to be acquired by Sanford Health. 

Nurses say this contract comes at a pivotal moment for Maple Grove Hospital. Earlier this summer, nurses successfully secured a Letter of Understanding (LOU), protecting key workplace rights during the proposed acquisition. With the ratification of a new union contract, nurses have now built on those protections with legally enforceable commitments that help ensure continuity of care, retain experienced caregivers, and protect the workforce through the proposed acquisition.   

“After more than 18 months of learning and standing together, we’re proud to have secured our first union contract. As Maple Grove Hospital prepares to be acquired, having a strong contract in place gives nurses the stability and protections we need to continue advocating for our patients and our profession,” said Margaret Sampson, RN. “This contract is an important first step, but our work isn’t finished. Maple Grove and Robbinsdale are part of the same health system, and we deserve equitable wages, benefits, and workplace protections so we can continue providing the high-quality care our communities count on.”  

The newly ratified contract will protect the nurses who care for the community and strengthen the workforce needed as patient demands are expected to grow.  

“This contract ratification comes at a critical moment for Maple Grove nurses. A ratified contract means nurses won’t have to face transition without key workplace protections,” said Lisa Groebner, RN. “Our contract safeguards our rights and strengthens our voice on the job. Together we’ve built a foundation that protects our workforce and helps ensure our community continues to have the care they depend on.”  

Hazelden Betty Ford  

Shortly after the ratification vote at Maple Grove, MNA nurses celebrated yet again as nurses at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in Center City, Minn. ratified their first contract agreement following a two-week unfair labor practice (ULP) strike.  

This ratification concludes a historic campaign that establishes the first unionized nurse bargaining unit across the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation system anywhere in the nation.  

The contract includes significant gains aimed at protecting patient care, improving workplace safety, and strengthening the nursing workforce. 

“This agreement represents more than a first contract — it establishes a voice for nurses who provide addiction and behavioral health care every day,” said Jody Burton, RN at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and member of the negotiating team. “Our patients deserve experienced nurses who feel safe at work and have the support they need to provide the highest quality care. These protections move us in that direction.” 

Throughout negotiations, nurses consistently identified workplace safety as one of their highest priorities. Through a Minnesota Government Data Practices Act request to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office, MNA had found that deputies responded to 233 calls involving Hazelden Betty Ford’s Center City campus between Jan. 1, 2025, and July 19, 2026 — an average of nearly three calls each week. Nurses argued that Hazelden relied heavily on taxpayer-funded law enforcement resources to help manage safety issues at the facility while resisting their repeated calls to add dedicated on-site safety personnel. The contract creates enforceable timelines for implementing panic buttons and providing safety personnel, a testament to nurses’ belief that safer workplaces lead to safer patient care. 

“This contract demonstrates what workers can accomplish when they stand together,” said Anne Coleman, RN at Hazelden. “We endured more than a year of difficult negotiations, an unfair labor practice strike, and repeated delays because we believe our patients and coworkers deserve better.”