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Allina Clinics Picket Over Contract
Twin Cities, MN – June 3, 2025 – Doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners across the Twin Cities, members of Doctors Council SEIU, held informational pickets today at several Allina Health clinics, expressing their frustration over a lack of progress in contract negotiations that have spanned 15 months. The union, representing over 600 primary care providers, formed in October 2023 and has since engaged in nearly 40 bargaining sessions without reaching a new agreement.
The informational pickets, held at clinics in Coon Rapids, Bloomington, Maplewood, and West St. Paul, aimed to raise public awareness about the ongoing dispute. Union leaders emphasize their core demands center on ensuring their work is valued, securing safe working conditions, and guaranteeing that the voices of caregivers are heard to enable them to focus on patient care and community health.
Among the specific concerns raised by Doctors Council SEIU are proposals from Allina Health to eliminate sick time and cut pay. According to union representatives, Allina is attempting to reduce their pay from the 50th percentile of national and regional data to the 25th percentile. Providers state that such cuts would "unquestionably worsen primary care" and impede their ability to provide sustainable, high-quality care to patients.
In a statement responding to the pickets, Allina Health acknowledged the challenging nature of negotiating first contracts and stressed the importance of "getting it right." The non-profit health system affirmed its commitment to negotiating in good faith, aiming for "responsible agreements that maintain competitive pay and benefits for our providers while ensuring that we can sustain our caring mission during these extremely uncertain economic times." Allina Health also stated that there would be no disruption to patient care during the informational pickets.
The union's efforts also highlight broader concerns regarding patient care, including issues stemming from Allina Health's recent outsourcing of clinical lab services to Quest Diagnostics. While distinct from the contract negotiations, union members have publicly called for action from the Allina Board of Directors regarding delayed access to care, eliminated services, and increased costs for patients following this transition.
Doctors Council SEIU is the largest private-sector doctors' union in the country, with its members covering clinics throughout Minnesota and one in River Falls, Wisconsin. The ongoing negotiations reflect a broader trend of healthcare professionals advocating for improved working conditions and a stronger voice in decision-making processes that impact patient care.
