Allina retools offer to nurses, hoping to restart talks

Allina Health is asking nurses at five hospitals to return to the bargaining table, saying it's willing to further delay elimination of health insurance plans that nurses want to keep.

The health care provider says switching some 4,800 nurses to insurance that already covers most Allina employees would save the company $10 million a year. Allina wanted to terminate the nurse-only plans by the end of 2018, but is now offering to extend that deadline by a year.

"We've made a significant move to try to get our union and our nurses back to the bargaining table and reach a new agreement that is fair and sustainable to all, which is what I know everyone wants," said Allina spokesperson David Kanihan.

Allina says the plans covering the nurses eventually would be subject to a federal tax on so-called Cadillac health plans that provide generous benefits. Kanihan said Allina is also willing to accept much of what the union wants in regard to workplace safety.

A union spokesperson said nurses are evaluating Allina's proposal. Nurses returned to work Sunday after a seven-day strike.