Contracts Return to the Bargaining Table for Allina Nurses

The latest labor contract offers were rejected last week

The Minnesota Nurses Association and Allina Health have returned once again to the bargaining table.

The union representing about 4,800 nurses at five Allina hospitals in the Twin cities rejected a labor contract offer last week and authorized an open-ended strike just two months after a week-long strike ended without a deal.

The two sides are expected to resume talks Tuesday. Park of the dispute is over healthcare plans. Allina wants to transition its nurses to the same plan as other employees to save $10 million a year.

This corporate plan carries lower premiums but higher deductibles; leaving nurses to want to keep their current health plans.