The latest talks took place Friday, in which negotiators addressed a dispute over the cost and design of the nurses’ union-backed health insurance.
The Minnesota Nurses Association first proposed to eliminate two of its union-backed health plans for the nurses and increase their costs on two others in an effort to compromise and avert a second strike, according to the report.
The Star Tribune reports both sides traded counteroffers during Friday’s negotiating session, and Allina eventually agreed to retain two of the union’s health plans. The health system deemed this a “significant” concession since it had wanted to eliminate all four plans and switch nurses over to its corporate plans, the report notes.
But negotiations ultimately stalled Friday night as the two sides could not agree on funding for the rising costs of those union plans, according to the report.
According to the Star Tribune, both sides had already reached agreement on 2 percent wage increases for the next three years and made progress on issues such as workplace safety efforts.
Allina and the union are expected to resume talks Aug. 1.
At that time, nurses will consider the latest offer from Allina, which would retain two of the plans for existing nurses with increased deductibles and copays, and require new nurses to use the corporate health plans, according to the report. If nurses reject the offer, the union could consider a second strike.
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