A 12,000-strong nurses’ strike is planned for June 10. The nurses will represent 13 Twin Cities hospitals. On the same day, 13,000 California nurses will strike as well. The nurses in Minnesota are fighting proposed pension and benefit cuts. They are also fighting for the hospitals to commit to strict nurse-to-patient ratios. Citing economic woes, the hospitals are requesting more autonomy in this area, with the option of floating nurses or sending nurses home on slow days, according to TwinCities.com.

As strike day approaches, some experts worry if there are enough temporary nurses planned to care for patients. The Minnesota Board of Nursing processed 2,370 applications in May for licensure by endorsement, meaning they are licensed in another state but would like to practice in MN. Though that’s apparently 10 times more than usual, it’s a smaller number than the board expected for the strike-in fact, when two hospitals went on strike in 2001, the board received more applications.

Nurses who fill in for those on strike may face scrutiny from striking nurses, but one nurse planning to fill in told TwinCities.com that though she might hear negative comments as she passes the picket lines, she is really on the side of the protesters, helping them take care of patients as they help themselves. She also says it’s not about the money, as she could make more money by staying at her current job rather than traveling for days just to work one.

What do you think? Have you been following this news? Will a settlement happen before the strike? Will the one-day strike be effective? Leave a comment below.