Media Release for January 9, 2025

Contact: Coly Intemann, 320-470-8736

BRECKENRIDGE, MN/WAHPETON, ND – On January 6th, Registered Nurses at CHI St. Francis Breckenridge voted to form a union with AFSCME Council 65.

AFSCME Council 65 represents 15,000 workers in government, non-profits, and healthcare facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

CHI St. Francis Breckenridge is a 25-bed critical access hospital that serves Breckenridge, MN, Wahpeton, ND and the surrounding area.

“We are proud to be nurses and to serve our community in that way,” said Ali Steffens, Registered Nurse. “We see our union as an extension of that pride. What better way to advocate for ourselves and our patients than in a union?”

“I worry about the future of healthcare,” said Amie Benedict, Registered Nurse, “We have had a lot of turnover at the hospital, a lot of nursing experience has walked out the door in the last year. We’re looking to triage that wound by making this a better place to work. We want to show others that they can come work here and we will have their back in a union.”

“I really believe in my coworkers, we should have more say in the decisions made about the care we give,” said Connie Okeson, Registered Nurse. “As larger and larger healthcare systems continue to run small hospitals like ours, it’s important to have meaningful input from professionals who work directly with our community. In a union, we have more resources and confidence to speak up at work.”

“After all, unions have been the only powerful and effective voice working people have ever had in the history of this country,” said Okeson.