Allina Hospitals & Clinics and Service Employees International Union Local 113 announced a contract settlement Monday, one day before the current pact was set to expire. Talks continue between the union and another group of hospitals.

The settlement with Allina covers 2,500 workers, including nursing assistants, dietary workers and housekeeping staff at Abbott Northwestern and Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and United Hospital in St. Paul.

Allina and the union did not release details, but called the tentative agreement "a precedent-setting contract and Strategic Alliance." The union said its negotiating team is unanimously recommending approval and members will vote during the coming week. Details of the agreement will be released next week, the union said.

Negotiations continue with a multi-employer association on a contract covering 3,500 Local 113 members at HealthEast Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis, HealthEast St. John's in Maplewood, Children's Hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Fairview University Medical Center-Riverside Campus, Fairview Southdale in Edina, North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.

The current agreement expires Tuesday, Feb. 28, but Local 113 President Julie Schnell said her organization is committed to continuing negotiations beyond the expiration date. Last week, she described the talks with the multi-employer association as "slow" and "difficult."

In contrast, Allina has taken a cooperative approach that respects the union's "Together for Quality Care" campaign launched in December, which focuses on improving quality and access to health care for workers, their families and communities, she said.

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