No Progress In Talks To Prevent Nurses Strike

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Negotiators have returned to the bargaining table but report no progress in contract talks to avoid a strike by nearly 5,000 nurses at five hospitals in the Minneapolis area.

Representatives from the Minnesota Nurses Association and Allina Health met Monday at the request of a federal mediator.

The nurses rejected Allina's latest contract offer last week, saying it would shift too much of the company's health care costs to the nurses. Union leaders have set a one-week strike to begin Sunday by nurses at Abbott Northwestern, Phillips Eye Institute, United, Mercy and Unity hospitals.

Allina says its metro-area hospitals will remain open if the nurses go on strike.

The walkout would be the first in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since a one-day strike in 2010.

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