Day 2 of Voting for Minnesota Nurses on New Contracts at 15 Hospitals

(St. Paul, MN) —  This is day two (Monday) of voting that began Friday by up to 15-thousand nurses on new contracts at 15 hospitals in Duluth-Superior and the Twin Cities.  The tentative agreements averted a strike that was originally scheduled to begin yesterday (12/11).  Nurses at Essentia and Saint Luke’s in Duluth are voting on 17 percent raises over three years plus other bonuses.  The increase would be 18 percent at Allina, Children’s, M Health Fairview, North Memorial and Methodist in the Twin Cities.  Nurses union officials say the tentative contracts also include “unprecedented language… to address chronic understaffing in our hospitals” and they’re recommending a “yes” vote by the rank-and-file.  Results will be announced Wednesday afternoon.