Allina Health says only about half of the nearly 150 physicians represented by Doctors Council SEIU walked off the job when a four-day strike began Monday, Sept. 14, at Mercy Hospital's Coon Rapids campus and Unity campus in Fridley. Allina spokesperson Blois Olson told the Minnesota Reformer that 37 union doctors crossed the picket line and 40 were not scheduled to work this week. The Reformer added those figures to its story Monday evening. As of Wednesday, Sept. 16, MedicalDaily had not found a newer official count or a public response from the union.
The physician strike is running alongside a separate seven-day walkout by roughly 60 Allina hospice nurses that began Friday, Sept. 11, and is scheduled to run through Thursday, Sept. 17. The overlap puts two kinds of care under pressure at once for north metro households: hospital care at Mercy and Unity, and end-of-life care for patients at home or in care facilities. Allina says it has plans in place so patient care is not disrupted during either strike, according to FOX 9.
The practical question has shifted from whether the strike would happen to how coverage is working. In a statement reported by MPR News, Allina said the union represents about 10% of physicians credentialed to provide care at the two campuses and that not all union physicians would strike. The health system said it is asking other doctors to help cover gaps. MedicalDaily did not find public details from Allina on which units or specialties have been most affected.
Two Walkouts, One Household Worry
Families caring for a loved one in hospice may feel the overlap most. Before a crisis happens, they can confirm the after-hours hospice phone number, ask who will visit this week, and review the plan for pain, breathing trouble, or agitation.
Households with a relative admitted at Mercy or Unity can ask each day who the attending physician is and how to reach that doctor. Allina says scheduled procedures and surgeries will continue and that patients will be contacted directly if anything needs to change. Because the union includes hospitalists, OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, and critical care physicians, patients in those areas may see a different doctor than they expected.
None of this should delay emergency care. Chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, or heavy bleeding during pregnancy call for 911 or a trip to the nearest emergency department. Keeping an updated medication list and recent test results on hand can help a covering physician get up to speed quickly.
Since MedicalDaily's First Report
MedicalDaily's earlier patient guide explained what Mercy patients could expect before the walkout began. At that time, Allina said both campuses would stay open and procedures should proceed, and KARE 11 reported that Allina expected fewer than 4% of Mercy's medical staff to strike. Allina had not yet said how many union doctors actually walked out. The strike is now underway, and the health system has released its first participation count.
The core dispute has not changed publicly. The doctors, who voted to unionize in 2023, say they want dedicated paid sick days, cost-of-living raises, and more say in patient care, and some have raised concerns about the growing role of artificial intelligence in medical records. Allina says the physicians already have paid leave and that it complies with state law. "We need to be able to stand up for ourselves," hospitalist Dr. Amber Galarowicz, a member of the union's bargaining team, told the Reformer.
In a statement reported by MPR News, Allina said "these negotiations cannot be divorced from the economics that are impacting both patients and healthcare systems." The two sides describe the talks differently: the Reformer reported that the doctors have met with Allina leaders more than 60 times, while Allina cited about 50 negotiating sessions. The Reformer said the walkout is believed to be the first by private-sector hospital doctors in U.S. history.
Allina's proposed acquisition by California-based Sutter Health remains under review by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. Dr. Alia Sharif, a hospitalist on the union's bargaining team, told the Reformer she hopes to see a community benefits agreement that would guard against immediate service cuts and layoffs.
Strike Timeline and What Comes Next
Sept. 14, evening: Allina told the Reformer that 37 union doctors crossed the picket line and 40 were not scheduled to work this week.
Sept. 14, 7 a.m.: About 150 Doctors Council SEIU physicians began a four-day strike at Mercy and Unity. Dozens of doctors and nurses rallied outside Mercy in Coon Rapids, MPR News reported.
Sept. 11: Roughly 60 Allina hospice nurses began their seven-day strike, seeking higher wages, holiday pay, and what they consider reasonable schedules.
Sept. 4: The union filed its required 10-day strike notice. Doctors Council SEIU said members had voted with 91% support in June to authorize the strike after three years of bargaining without a first contract.
The physician strike is scheduled to end at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, according to Allina, and the hospice strike is set to end after Thursday. As of Wednesday, MedicalDaily had not found a publicly announced date for the next bargaining session. The key unknowns are whether talks resume, whether any procedures were moved, and whether either union plans further action. Patients should keep their appointments unless Allina contacts them and should ask directly who is providing their care.
Key Questions Answered
How many doctors actually walked out? Allina told the Minnesota Reformer that about half of the nearly 150 union doctors walked off the job. It said 37 crossed the picket line and 40 were not scheduled to work this week.
Are Mercy and Unity still open? Yes. Allina says both campuses remain open and that it is asking other physicians to help cover gaps.
When does the strike end? The physician strike is scheduled to end at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, according to Allina. The separate hospice nurse strike is set to run through Thursday, Sept. 17.
What should hospice families do this week? Confirm the after-hours hospice number and ask who will visit. Review the plan for pain, breathing problems, or agitation ahead of time.
Will scheduled surgeries go ahead? Allina says scheduled procedures and surgeries will continue. Patients will be contacted directly if anything needs to change.
What are the doctors asking for? The union cites dedicated paid sick days, cost-of-living raises, and more say in patient care, including concerns about AI. Allina says the doctors have paid leave and that any contract must account for rising health care costs.
What should I do in an emergency? Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not delay emergency care because of the strike.
