Nurses voting on new contract

Leadership of the Minnesota Nurses Association said the new three-year pact does not accomplish everything the nurses wanted, but does stop numerous takebacks sought by the hospitals and moves forward the discussion on the nurses’ top priority, safe staffing.

Voting is taking place from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the union headquarters in St. Paul and Park Center High School in Brooklyn Park. Union spokesman John Nemo said the count should be finished by 1 a.m. Wednesday and results posted on the MNA website.

“Nurses are taking two votes – one to ratify the labor contract settlement agreement and one to ratify the pension,” Nemo said. A 50 percent + 1 vote is needed to ratify the contract and the pension. MNA negotiating committees have  recommended the settlement and expect it to be ratified.

Negotiations began in March between the MNA and six hospital systems – Health East, Allina, Methodist, Children’s, North Memorial and Fairview. Frustrated by lack of progress, the nurses engaged in a one-day walkout June 10 – the largest nursing strike in U.S. history.

The parties then returned to the bargaining table with the help of a federal mediator.