05/07/2026
RELEASE: WORKERS AND ADVOCATES DEMAND LEGISLATORS FUND HCMC AS TARGET FIELD WORKERS PREPARE TO STRIKE
Workers Demand Emergency Funding for HCMC and a Fair Contract for Target Field Workers Organized with UNITE HERE local 17 as HCMC Bill Considers Twins Subsidy
ST. PAUL, Minn., Thursday May 7 — Workers, union members, and advocates gathered Thursday at the Minnesota State Capitol to demand lawmakers fund HCMC and stand with Target Field workers as they consider giving $7 million (HF4841) to $9 million (SF4986) annually to the Minnesota Twins. Among those speaking out: Frontline hospital staff with AFSCME Locals 2474 and 977, as well as a Target Field concession worker organized with UNITE HERE Local 17 who joined the vote to authorize a strike while attempting to negotiate a fair contract with Delaware North Company.
HCMC, the safety-net hospital that serves nearly 100,000 Minnesotans every year, is facing a $50 million budget shortfall. It has already cut jobs and programs, loses more than $100 million annually on uncompensated care, and expects to lose another $1.7 billion over the next decade as federal cuts take hold.
Rev. Dr. Karen McKinney from Fellowship Church in North Minneapolis shared a heartfelt story about the deep care HCMC staff exhibit for their patients and stressed the need for a timely solution.
“Right now, both the House and Senate are weighing proposals to provide emergency funding to HCMC. We applaud them for that effort. But time is running out. And we are disappointed that both sides propose to put significant resources to a privately-held sports franchise. It’s time to get this done right, for all Minnesotans.”
Janell Johnson Thiele, a labor and delivery nurse and Minnesota Nurses Association union leader at HCMC, addressed what HCMC means to patients and what is at stake if the Legislature fails to act.
"HCMC nurses go to work every day because we love what we do and the positive impact we have on the lives of our patients…but everyone has their breaking point. Without long-term funding passed this session, there will be consequences that could impact the entire Metro nursing workforce.”
Sara Franck, a Dental Assistant at HCMC and AFSCME Local 2474 union president, described what it means to work at the safety-net hospital and what lawmakers need to do to keep it open.
"‘HCMC is more than just a hospital; it is a lifeline for working people, seniors, children, and our most vulnerable neighbors who rely on us every single day regardless of their income, background, or ability to pay. The workers at HCMC show up because we believe every person deserves dignity, care, and compassion during their most difficult days. We are here today demanding that our legislators put families and frontline workers first. We cannot ask the taxpayer to subsidize billionaire-owned sports teams, while underfunding threatens to dismantle a public institution that so many Minnesotans depend on to survive. We need a fair tax deal centered on a long-term solution to fund HCMC so that patient care can be provided without interruption."
Jay Richmond, a concessions worker at Target Field and UNITE HERE Local 17 member, talked about the decision to authorize a strike and what a fair contract would mean for workers who make the stadium run.
“My coworkers and I work hard to make the game-day experience a great one for Twins fans, but some of us make as little as minimum wage. Right now, we are fighting for a fair contract. This week, we voted to authorize a strike if a deal is not met. We don’t want to strike, so we are calling on members of the Minnesota Senate and House to tell the Twins and our employer, Delaware North: Give us a fair deal.
We think it is unfair and wrong that the billionaire owners of the Twins could receive millions of dollars in public money while the people who keep the stadium running struggle to get by. Stadium maintenance is important, but this public subsidy should be contingent on good labor practices and fair wages. We deserve a contract that has liveable wages, health insurance and job protections.
Like all Minnesotans, we also deserve a healthcare system that can care for us when we are in need. That’s why we are here in solidarity with the workers of HCMC. We need a tax deal that provides sufficient support to this critical hospital and its workers. And we need a fair deal of our own.”
Eric Bernstein, Coalition Director of We Make Minnesota, emphasized the need for a deal that is sufficient to provide job security to HCMC workers and that asks publicly subsidized corporations to provide fair wages and working conditions.
"We need a deal that is sufficient to keep this hospital running — not for one year, not for two years, but long enough that workers can feel confident they have job stability and a place to call home," he said. "And when corporations get public money, they owe the public something in return — starting with fair wages and decent conditions for their workers."
