Mankato union nurses, Mayo reach contract agreement

Union nurses and management at the Mayo Clinic Health System hospital in Mankato have agreed on a new three-year contract.

The deal, reached after five months of negotiations, addresses quality of patient care and gives nurses more input on staffing levels without fear of retaliation, said nurse David Nachreiner.

"I think they're very happy with the language itself, that we will have a say," Nachreiner said of the 470 Minnesota Nurses Association members covered by the contract. "The reality is it will be kind of a wait and see to see if this was successful."

The hospital is "pleased that we have reached this agreement,"Ryannon Frederick, the Mankato hospital's chief nursing officer, said in a statement. "We look forward to the positive, professional and solution-based input from our nurses, and all our staff members."