ST PAUL, Minn — After 17 hours of negotiations, the bargaining team with HealthPartners and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have reached a tentative agreement and called off the strike planned for next week.
In a video released to social media, representatives came up with terms to be voted on in meetings next week. The amended terms to nurses' contracts include:
- Wage increases of 7.5% over the next three years, retroactive
- Protecting the 'classic' health plan benefits
- Overtime pay provisions protected from all cuts and changes
Union members had previously filed a 10-day strike notice on Friday after voting to authorize the strike the day before.
The union says that employees' healthcare benefits is the main issue. Workers voted to authorize the strike on Thursday by a vote of 95% to 5%.
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota represents 1,800 members at HealthPartners, including nurses, dental and nursing assistants, nurse practitioners and midwives at more than 30 locations.
