Sanford Bemidji nurses, management reach contract agreement

After months of negotiations and a threatened strike, nurses at Sanford Bemidji Health Center approved a new contract Tuesday night that includes a 3 percent pay increase over three years and more say in staffing and scheduling.

The contract also makes changes in health care and retirement benefits.

"Both sides compromised I believe, and that's good. I think nobody felt like they got everything that they wanted," said Joy Johnson, chief operating officer for Sanford Bemidji. "I think coming away from it we all feel that it was a good process. You know, the important part is we can get back to taking care of patients."

Under terms of the agreement, the nurses will have to pay a $750 deductible on their health insurance. And current employees may choose to remain in the existing pension plan, or join Sanford's 401(k). New employees' only option will be the 401(k).

In a statement, Bemidji nurse and union bargaining team member Peter Danielson called the contract one the "nurses can feel good about."

The Bemidji union nurses overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer and authorized a strike July 28. The union never set a strike date, and the nurses continued to work.

The Minnesota Nurses Association has 230 members working as RNs at Sanford Bemidji.

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