Duluth nurses ratify contract

A major breakthrough was agreement on contract language to address the level of nurse staffing, the negotiations committee said.

Other improvements included salary increases and enhancements to the education provisions and life insurance. The union also was able to achieve contract language preventing SMDC management from using the National Labor Relations Board’s decision in the Kentucky River case, which expanded the definition of supervisor, to remove charge nurses and other lead staff from bargaining units.

Nearly 1,000 nurses at SMDC had been without a contract since the previous pact expired July 1. Bargaining began May 6. If an agreement had not been reached, nurses were prepared to hold a one-day strike Sept. 14.

Earlier last week, the Minnesota Nurses Association announced that its members at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth also had ratified a new, three-year contract by a 96 percent margin. The agreement covers about 450 registered nurses.

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