More than 150 physicians at two Allina Health hospitals began a planned, four-day strike Monday morning, disrupting staffing at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Allina’s Unity campus in Fridley.
Who is striking and why
Doctors represented by Doctors Council–SEIU commenced the work stoppage at 7 a.m. after contract negotiations ended Sunday night without an agreement. The group is pressing for improved pay, enhanced benefits and additional time off, according to union statements.
Union leaders also raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence in clinical workflows. OBGYN physician Dr. John Wust told local media the union is wary of AI tools that begin to influence coding, diagnostic suggestions and potentially treatment decisions.
“We are starting to have AI creep into the electronic medical records suggesting how we code patients. We are concerned that it might suggesting how we make diagnosis and then could start influencing treatment decisions that are maybe not in the best interest of the patient,”
Allina Health response and care continuity
Allina Health said both Mercy and Unity campuses will remain open during the four-day action and that it has plans to prevent disruptions in care. A system spokesperson emphasized the organization’s priority on patients and staff and expressed disappointment that two SEIU-represented groups chose to strike.
Allina’s statement stressed that the health system has “comprehensive plans in place to maintain safe, high-quality, compassionate care for patients and families during this brief strike activity and to ensure no disruption in care for our communities.”
Context: multiple labor actions at Allina
The doctors’ strike comes amid related labor activity at Allina. Hospice workers at the system were already conducting a separate, weeklong strike over pay and work-life balance issues. Earlier notices of other potential physician strike activity were reported in recent days.
What patients should know
Allina has said it will keep services open and will staff the hospitals to avoid care interruptions. Patients with scheduled procedures or appointments should:
- Confirm their appointment directly with the hospital or clinic prior to arrival.
- Call the hospital’s main number or their clinician’s office for guidance on urgent needs.
- Use emergency services for life-threatening conditions as usual.
Allina did not provide details on whether particular nonurgent services might be rescheduled during the strike nor did it list which specialties are participating in the walkout.
Immediate local impact
The walkout affects two facilities located north of Minneapolis: Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and the Unity campus in Fridley. Both serve substantial suburban populations for inpatient, outpatient and emergency services.
| Facility | Location | Strike start | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Hospital | Coon Rapids | 7 a.m. Monday | 4 days |
| Unity campus | Fridley | 7 a.m. Monday | 4 days |
Hospital officials said contingency staffing and care plans are in place, but patients and families expressed unease about potential disruptions. The simultaneous hospice strike and physician action heighten concerns among community members who rely on Allina for a range of services.
Negotiations and next steps
Negotiations had continued through Sunday evening but ended without a deal, prompting the strike. The four-day action is a formal labor tactic intended to press bargaining leverage while limiting the duration of disruption.
Representatives for Doctors Council–SEIU and Allina Health have not released a public timeline for further bargaining sessions. If talks resume, a settlement could end the strike earlier; if not, the action will continue through its planned four-day span.
WE NEWS will monitor developments, including any updates from Allina Health about service changes and union statements about future plans. Patients with concerns should contact their care teams or the hospitals directly for the latest information.
Soren Halvorsen is WE NEWS state correspondent covering healthcare and labor issues.
