Negotiations resume Tuesday, June 27, between United Steelworkers Local 9349 and Guardian Angels nursing home, where workers have been on strike for nearly eight weeks.

This will be the first time the parties have met since April. "We are hopeful that we can reach a fair and equitable settlement, which has been the goal of the union all along," said USW Staff Representative Tara Widner. "The parties involved know what will bring an end to this strike."

On May 5, union workers represented by Local 9349 walked off the job. The union represents approximately 100 nursing aides and workers from dietary, housekeeping, laundry, activities and maintenance.

On Monday, a federal mediator who has been involved with negotiations since February called both parties, setting up the next date for negotiations.

Tammy Poppe, unit chair and member of the negotiating committee, said she was encouraged by the news.

"We miss the residents," she said. "We miss our jobs. This strike has been hard on everyone in the community. The only way we can bring any resolution to this labor dispute is at the bargaining table."

USW Local 9349 represents about 650 health care workers in 14 different facilities in northern Minnesota, including the striking workers at Guardian Angels. The Steelworkers represent over 15,000 workers in Minnesota and more than 4,300 are health care workers. USW is the largest industrial union in North America representing over 850,000 workers in the United States and Canada.

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