Minnesota hospitals reach deal with union representing 12K nurses, days before planned strike

Minnesota hospitals reach deal with 12,000 nurses

MINNEAPOLIS — The union representing more than 12,000 nurses has reached an agreement with 14 Minneapolis-area hospitals days ahead of a planned strike.

The deal announced Thursday represents a compromise by the Minnesota Nurses Association on its insistence for rigid nurse-to-staff ratios.

A joint statement says the two sides agreed to work on staffing issues through an existing system of committees at the hospitals. It doesn’t contain additional details about the agreement.

The statement says the deal still needs ratification by the union membership, but the negotiating committees have agreed to endorse it.

The nurses went on a one-day strike June 10. A walkout scheduled for Tuesday was to be open-ended.