Walz Exempts Mayo Clinic From Union-Backed Nurse Staffing Legislation

ST. PAUL, MN — After a public standoff during which billions of dollars were apparently at stake, Gov. Tim Walz has agreed to exempt the Mayo Clinic from the union-backed "Keeping Nurses at the Bedside" Act.

The exemption was made after the Mayo Clinic threatened to pull billions of dollars in building investments if they were not spared by the bill, which requires hospitals to form committees made up of nurses to create "core staffing plans."

The Minnesota Nurse Association subsequently denounced Walz "for siding with corporate bullies over patients and nurses."

"Our hearts break for the nurses at Mayo Clinic Health System who will be denied a voice in the process of safe staffing by their own corporate executives," said Mary C. Turner, the president of the MNA, in a statement.

"By siding with the profits and power of corporate executives over the rights and needs of patients and workers, Governor Walz has made clear he will only side with labor when corporate interests concede."

The Mayo Clinic exemption notwithstanding, the nurse staffing bill is expected to pass the Minnesota Legislature and be signed into law.

The MNA said that despite the anticipated Mayo exemption, the bill will help retain nurses at more than 90 percent of Minnesota hospitals.

Patch has reached out to Gov. Tim Walz's office for comment.