Letters to the Editor

Dear Fight Back!, 

Three years ago the University of Minnesota sold its hospital to Fairview, a chain of private hospitals that dominates the Twin Cities health care system. For those of us who work here, privatization has proved to be a nightmare!

A change in staffing ratios mean that six of us are doing the work that used to be done by ten. Our seniority rights have been under constant attack. We have lost vacation time and a lot more.

As it stands now, the hospital has had to close two operating rooms because people don't want to work here.

Around the country, there are plans for public hospitals to be sold off to private corporations. From our experience, Fairview employees know that privatization is bad for those who work in heath care, and it's bad for the patients as well.

It's critical that we push our unions to do everything possible to beat back each and every attempt to privatize!

- A hospital worker at Fairview-University Hospital and member of American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 1164