Allina Teams with Hospital Workers to Improve Patient Care; SEIU Members and Allina Management Move toward Strategic Alliance

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2005--Allina Hospitals & Clinics and SEIU Local 113, represented by a committee of its hospital workers, today announced plans to develop a strategic alliance to solve problems and improve the delivery of quality health care in Minnesota, a vision that management and workers agree is both possible and desirable.

"This is the first step to improving quality health care for our patients and our communities," said Dick Pettingill, president and CEO, Allina Hospitals & Clinics. "Our plan to work together will make our hospitals the best in the Twin Cities and around the state."

Specifically, Allina and SEIU agreed to work together over the next 45 days to establish a partnership agreement. During that time, both parties have agreed to work cooperatively on a number of issues including, expedited negotiations for metro contracts, maintaining a positive approach to communications, and joint problem-solving. During this period, Allina has also agreed to neutrality in union organizing campaign efforts.

"We are working with Allina to solve issues with affordable health insurance, improving quality patient care, and building a safe and respectful workplace," said Julie Schnell, president of SEIU Local 113, which unites Allina hospital workers. "This is the beginning of an unprecedented strategic alliance that is in the best interest of our patients and our communities."

According to Pettingill, among Allina's specific objectives for exploring a partnership agreement are reducing employee injuries, reducing use of sick time, securing active participation in achieving department productivity goals, improving patient satisfaction and establishing labor-management committees at each site.

"Our goal is to ensure that our hospitals provide the very best care for our patients," said Pettingill. "The potential of this alliance is historic. Through it we hope to forge a long-term relationship with our employees and make our hospitals the best at caring for our patients."

Additional details of the proposed strategic alliance include, providing paid time off to workers who are involved in the exploration of this alliance and developing a joint problem-solving committee to deal with workplace and care delivery issues.

The agreement comes as Twin Cities hospital workers prepare to kickoff Together for Quality Care, their campaign to build healthy workers, healthy hospitals, and healthy communities in the Twin Cities and across the state of Minnesota.

About Allina Hospitals & Clinics

Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 11 hospitals, 65 clinics, hospice services, oxygen and equipment, pharmacies, and emergency medical transportation services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics and the latest health information can be found online at www.allina.com.