Union members stood with communities of faith, advocacy organizations and people of conscience on Thursday, February 4th at the Save GAMC Rally at the Capitol. People rallied to urge Governor Pawlenty to reverse the unallotment that slashes health care for 85, 000 of the state's poorest and sickest residents.
Minnesota Nurses Association was one of the unions at the rally that helped give voice to Minnesotans who receive GAMC. Linda Slattengren, RN, spoke at the rally (pictured left). She talked of the role RNs play as caregivers to GAMC recipients.
"Registered Nurses are at the bedside of our community in need, every shift, 24/7 in all areas of care. We see how a lack of an inhaler can turn into a respiratory crisis in the ICU, or how untreated diabetes can become a costly stay on a dialysis unit or need for a kidney transplant."
Slattengren continued, "Nurses also readily respond to disasters whether in New Orleans, in Haiti or 
with the collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis, and we find it incomprehensible that we now must respond to an imposed and unnecessary disaster with the loss of GAMC...a loss that can and must be avoided with strong political leadership by the legislature and the governor."
Other unions and labor movement constituents at the rally included some Minnesota AFL-CIO Board of Directors and members and staff from AFSCME Council 5.