Minnesota nurses, hospitals reach agreement

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), which last week approved a nurses’ strike beginning July 6 at 14 Twin Cities hospitals, has reached an agreement with the hospitals on new collective bargaining agreements, according to a joint statement this afternoon from both groups.

“The registered nurses and the hospitals believe a settlement of the labor agreement at this time is in the best interests of patients and our community,” the statement, issued on behalf of Maureen Schriner, a spokeswoman for the hospitals, said.

The two sides reached an agreement with the help of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a news release said. Although the contract settlement is subject to ratification by the nurses represented by the MNA, the union’s negotiating committees have agreed to recommend approval of the settlement.

“Minnesota Nurses Association and the hospitals have agreed to a renewed commitment to working through both parties’ staffing issues through the existing committee systems at the various hospitals,” the statement added.

Nurses and officials from the 14 hospitals have been working on the issue since March. Last month, nurses at the hospitals staged a one-day strike, and last week voted to approve an open-ended strike beginning July 6.