Leader of landmark nurses' strike retires after 40-year career

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3523

By Jan Rabbers
26 February 2008

ST. PAUL - Jacquie Luoma will miss sliding the orange peels over to Karen Patek during negotiations.
Sue Kreitz will miss Karen's professionalism, mentorship, strength in Labor Management, and her way of getting the best she can for the nurses in negotiations.

Julie Kinsel will miss Karen's day-today kindness.


Karen Patek early in her career


Karen Patek today


Karen Patek will miss Jacquie, Sue, Julie and the thousands of others her life has touched in her 40-year career with the Minnesota Nurses Association.

"It's a long time," is her simple understatement in response to the initial request to reflect on the past four decades. She says it with that patented grin of hers, feet up on her desk, leaning back in her chair. Her open, unguarded pose is also typical. One always feels welcome in Karen's presence.

That "long time" is a body of work that consists of unprecedented gains for nursing and patient care in Minnesota.

FULL story at link.

[riverwalker]

1. Thank you Karen

from a Minnesota nurse and proud MNA union member. :toast: