Nurses cancel threatened strike in Hibbing
Registered nurses have canceled a strike that was threatened against a Hibbing hospital next week.
Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association pulled their strike notice after progress was made in a 12-hour bargaining session Thursday with Range Regional Health Services hospital.
The strike was scheduled to begin Wednesday and last three days.
The MNA says a federal mediator made a proposal that both sides feel is worth being voted on by union members.
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Both sides agreed that proposal details won't be released until everything is verified in writing. Once formalized, the mediator's proposal will be put to a vote by the 150 nurses at the hospital.
Negotiations on a new contract have been going on since last September.
Range Regional spokesman Mitch Vincent says the hospital is relieved a strike has been averted and is hopeful the nurses will ratify the proposal.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)