As many as 600 Allina Health doctors and primary care practitioners could go on a one-day protest strike of 61 clinics next month following unresolved negotiations over their first contract and the closure of five metro-area clinics.<\/p>\n
The doctors announced Friday they filed a 10-day notice and would strike Nov. 5 unless negotiations produce a deal before then. Their union, the SEIU-affiliated Doctors Council, said the walkout could be the largest of its kind in U.S. history and a first for doctors in Minnesota.<\/p>\n
The doctors chose a time-limited strike to minimize the harm on patient care but send a message to Allina that they won\u2019t tolerate conditions leading to burnout and physician shortages, said Dr. Matt Hoffman, a leader of the union movement and a practitioner at Allina\u2019s clinic in Vadnais Heights. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t strike, we are accepting more cuts to primary care and we certainly feel that in the long run these cuts will undoubtedly affect patients much more than any strike,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The walkout mostly involves Allina clinics in the Twin Cities but also in surrounding communities such as Cambridge and Faribault. Allina said in a written response it is \u201cprepared to continue providing safe care to meet the needs of our communities during the one-day strike.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there are changes to appointments,\u201d the statement added, \u201cwe will contact patients directly.\u201d<\/p>\n