Doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants with Allina Health’s clinics struck for one day Wednesday as union members and Allina officials ended bargaining without a deal earlier this week after more than a year of negotiations.

Officials with Doctors Council-SEIU, which represents more than 600 doctors, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners, believe the strike is the largest of its kind, which is taking place outside of Allina clinics across the Twin Cities metro area. Allina hospital providers are not a part of the bargaining unit, according to Allina officials.

Allina and Doctors Council-SEIU have been bargaining a first contract since February of 2024. Bargaining teams last met Monday.

“In an attempt to get to a fair contract, we presented Allina with multiple proposal changes today including articles on compensation, leaves of absence and PTO. Allina responded with only a single proposal,” said Matt Hoffman, a member of the Doctors Council-SEIU bargaining team, in a statement. “If we accepted what was on the table we would be facing decreased pay, worse benefits, and no help with staffing shortages or burnout.”

Bargaining topics have included paid time off, paid family and medical leave and compensation. Allina officials have said that while they are committed to providing competitive compensation and benefits, it must be balanced with financial realities of the health care industry, including rising costs and expected cuts to government funding.

“Allina Health is disappointed that some of our clinic providers are choosing to engage in a one-day strike and stepping away from caring for their patients,” Allina officials said in a statement. “We are committed to continuing to provide safe, high-quality care during this time. Our contingency plans are in place, which include working with the more than 25% of providers represented by the union who chose to work.”

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Union members plan to return to work Thursday with three more bargaining sessions planned for December. Health care workers are facing burnout, safety concerns and resources being pulled away from primary care clinics, said Christopher Antolak, a family physician with Allina and a member of the union bargaining team.

“Our main goals for our members are trying to obtain what we deem as fair compensation,” Antolak said Wednesday. “We’d like to try to access benefits like paid time off that so many other industries have. We’ve been pushing for improved safety at our clinic sites and urgent cares. And…improved staffing with clinic nurses.”

Allina and union officials will meet for their next bargaining session Friday, Dec. 5.