More than 150 physicians walked off the job at 7 a.m. Monday at Allina Health's Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Campus in Fridley, launching a four-day strike after contract talks between the health system and its doctors ended without a deal. The walkout includes hospitalists, OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, and critical care doctors, according to a report from Becker's Hospital Review.
The striking doctors are represented by Doctors Council SEIU, and as reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, they are seeking better pay, more time off, and improved benefits. Allina Health said Mercy Hospital and the Unity Campus will remain open during the four-day strike and that it has plans in place to prevent care disruptions, per the same station's report.
Nearly Three Years of Talks Collapsed
The bargaining unit voted with 91% support in June to authorize an unfair labor practice strike, following roughly three years of negotiations for a first contract that never came together, according to Doctors Council. The union noted that the bargaining unit was recognized after election delays.
Physician demands go well beyond wages and time off. According to the Minnesota Medical Association, doctors are also pushing for formal input on clinical care decisions, a say in how artificial intelligence is implemented in the workplace, and the elimination of employee non-compete clauses. Union negotiators additionally allege that Allina has refused to provide paid sick leave compliant with Minnesota's Earned Sick and Safe Time law, which took effect January 1, 2024, and requires employees to be able to accrue at least 48 hours of earned paid sick leave annually, per the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
A Second Strike Is Already Underway
The physicians' walkout overlaps with a separate, ongoing seven-day strike by roughly 60 Allina hospice nurses that began Sept. 11, represented by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa. Those nurses, who care for end-of-life patients in home and residential settings across the Twin Cities metro, are seeking a better work-life balance and higher wages, with disputes centered on caseload limits, overtime pay, and scheduling flexibility, according to SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. Hoodline previously reported on the hospice nurses' earlier July strike notice.
Allina Health has said Doctors Council SEIU represents about 10% of credentialed physicians across the two campuses and expected less than 4% of Mercy's total medical staff to actually participate in the walkout, according to KARE 11. The health system has implemented contingency staffing plans intended to keep emergency and inpatient services running through the disruption.
Financial Strain Meets a Pending Merger
The dueling strikes land as Allina Health navigates significant financial pressure. The system reported approximately $6 billion in revenue for 2025, per the Healthcare Dive. The dispute also includes the union's cost requests.
At the same time, Allina is preparing to join California-based Sutter Health under a definitive agreement signed in May to create a combined $26 billion nonprofit health system, according to Sutter Health. The transaction is subject to regulatory review. Under Minnesota's Health Care Transaction Law, the Minnesota Attorney General's Office is evaluating the proposed merger for its potential impact on healthcare access, pricing, and workforce stability, per the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General.
The hospital walkout comes amid organizing efforts at Allina involving the Mercy/Unity physicians and hospice nurses.
