Minnesota Nurses Across Twin Cities, Duluth Ratify Contracts with Raises, Staffing Provisions

Thousands of nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) in the Twin Cities and Duluth have ratified new three-year contracts after four months of negotiations, successfully averting a strike at many facilities. The contracts cover nurses at Allina Health, M Health Fairview, Essentia Health, Aspirus St. Luke’s, HealthPartners Methodist, and Children’s Minnesota, and include approximately a 10% wage increase for Twin Cities hospitals and a 9.75% raise for Duluth-area hospitals. Key priorities addressed in the agreements were safe staffing provisions, workplace safety measures, mental health protections, and fair compensation, reflecting a historic shift where safe staffing was voted the top concern over wages. Despite these agreements, other Essentia Health employees, including advanced practice providers and some nurses, remain on an unfair labor practice strike, citing issues with negotiations on staffing and contract terms. Hospital groups expressed commitment to innovation, flexibility in patient care, and maintaining high-quality, affordable healthcare while recognizing the contributions of nurses with the wage increases. The ratification marks a significant development in ongoing labor discussions within Minnesota's healthcare system but highlights continuing tensions at certain Essentia Health sites.