With nurses’ strike vote looming, hospitals offer to resume bargaining – with conditions

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4526

18 June 2010

ST. PAUL - With Twin Cities nurses set to vote Monday whether to authorize an open-ended strike, hospitals say they will agree to return to the bargaining table – but with conditions.

The group of 14 hospitals said it would accept an offer from the Minnesota Nurses Association to resume negotiations, but only if the union pledges not to strike before July 31. In return, the hospitals said they will not lock out any nurses.

The MNA has not yet responded to the hospitals’ proposal, which resulted from letters sent Tuesday, in which the union asked the six hospital systems to come back to the table.

“The union wishes to avoid a continued standoff and, therefore, we again reiterate our desire to return to the bargaining table to pursue meaningful negotiations,” MNA negotiators wrote, adding they would be available to bargain in the days after the strike vote and prior to the submission of an intent to strike. By law, the nurses must give 10 days’ notice before a walkout.

FULL story at link.