MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 10, 2026) — Caring for our patients and care team members is Allina Health's top priority. We are disappointed that two SEIU-represented groups have chosen to strike. We have comprehensive plans in place to maintain safe, high-quality, compassionate care for patients and families during this brief strike activity and to ensure no disruption in care for our communities.
Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Unity campus in Fridley will continue normal operations, with no disruption to services during the potential four days when a small portion of physicians may not be working. We also have expert nurses and plans in place to maintain continuity of care for our hospice patients and their families.
- Doctors Council SEIU represents about 10% of the physicians credentialed to provide care at Mercy Hospital’s two campuses, and not all SEIU-represented physicians will be on strike.
- SEIU Healthcare hospice nurses bargaining unit includes approximately 60 nurses who provide care in homes, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities across the greater Twin Cities metro area. The strike does not involve nurses at Allina Health hospitals, primary care clinics, urgent care clinics or specialty clinics.
Allina Health values the care provided by our physicians, hospice nurses and all care team members. We are committed to reaching agreements that provide competitive compensation and benefits for our teams. However, we must also act responsibly in reaching agreements on first contracts that will have a lasting impact on the cost and availability of care in the community.
For hospice care, approximately 90% of our hospice reimbursement is Medicare. For 2027, Medicare finalized a payment increase for hospice care of just 2.3%, which does not come close to covering the significant cost increases the union is proposing. In addition, Allina Health faces rising costs for drugs, supplies and labor, ongoing reimbursement pressures, increases in claim denials from insurance companies, and anticipated impacts from federal policy and reimbursement changes.
We will continue to work with both unions to reach fair agreements, but these negotiations cannot be divorced from the economics that are impacting both patients and health care systems.
We look forward to continuing discussions with both unions at the negotiating table.
Additional information:
- A strike does not benefit anyone. It only adds pressure for patients, families, care teams and the broader community who rely on Mercy Hospital, a Level 2 trauma hospital and one of the busiest hospitals in the metro, or on hospice care provided in homes and other care settings.
- These are the first contracts between Allina Health and both SEIU-represented groups, and we continue to seek agreement through productive negotiations with support from federal mediators.
- We estimate about 10% of Mercy medical staff are represented by the union, and less than 4% of Mercy medical staff will be on strike.
- For hospice patients, Allina Health is using available licensed nursing resources and contract nurses as needed to maintain continuity of care.
- This strike does not involve the Doctors Council SEIU group representing Allina Health primary care physicians and advanced practice providers, which has ratified a contract.
- Mercy Hospital has two campuses: Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Campus in Fridley. Doctors Council SEIU represents Allina Health employed physicians across both campuses via a single bargaining unit.
- While picketing outside Abbott Northwestern Hospital is expected, neither group is based at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. We ask media to take care in how video is used to avoid creating confusion for patients and families.
Allina Health is a nonprofit health care system serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin, dedicated to preventing and treating illness and improving the health of individuals, families and communities. Through a network of more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 13 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers, home care and emergency medical transportation, Allina Health provides high-quality care from birth through end-of-life.
Allina Health Institutes are at the forefront of the mission and offer nationally recognized experts and advanced care in key specialties:
- Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute – A leader in cardiovascular innovation, research and care delivery through clinical trials, publications and training 4,000+ providers annually, it is consistently rated ‘High Performing’ by U.S. News & World Report.
- Allina Health Cancer Institute – Providing comprehensive, personalized and innovative oncology care across the full cancer journey, delivered at 18 locations—including its three largest hospitals, which U.S. News & World Report consistently rates “High Performing” in multiple oncology specialties.
- Allina Health Brain and Spine Institute – Delivering advanced neurologic and spine care through Givens Brain Tumor Center, three nationally accredited stroke centers and an elite Adult Neurology Residency Program, while earning recognition from Becker’s, Newsweek & U.S. News & World Report.
Together, these institutes exemplify Allina Health’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.