Allina nurses offer deal on health insurance

There's been some movement on a key issue in contract talks between Allina Health and some 4,800 unionized nurses.

In their last day of scheduled contract talks on Friday, nurses offered to eliminate two of their health insurance plans and increase out-of-pocket costs for remaining plans. In exchange, nurses want wages hikes of 4, 3 and 3 percent over three years, along with improved staffing and workplace safety.

"Nurses have made a grand effort here to reach across the table and propose something that we hope Allina Health can agree to, that will generate an agreement both sides will be happy for," said union spokesman Rick Fuentes.

He said talks could go on late into this evening.

The nurses struck Allina hospitals for 7 days last month. The union says it doesn't want another strike. Allina has wanted to switch nurses to a corporate health plan that covers 30-thousand other employees.

Allina spokesman David Kanihan said the nurses' offer was welcome.

"We hope to have a productive discussion at today's bargaining session and continue to work together to settle our contract as quickly as possible," Kanihan said.

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