Allina, Minnesota nurses' union return to negotiations

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Negotiators have returned to the bargaining table in hopes of averting a nurses' strike at five hospitals in the Twin Cities area.

The Minnesota Nurses Association and representatives from Allina Health began negotiations Friday morning at a hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota. Representatives for the nurses and Allina said the talks were ongoing Friday night.

The union says nurses will strike starting Monday, Labor Day, if an agreement cannot be reached. Main issues of the negotiations include health insurance, workplace safety and staffing.

MNA spokesman Rick Fuentes says Allina's latest health insurance proposal still shifts too many costs to nurses.

The union represents about 4,800 nurses at Abbott Northwestern and the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, United in St. Paul, Unity in Fridley and Mercy in Coon Rapids.