Essentia Twin Ports hospital nurses reach agreement, avoid strike

The Minnesota Nurses Association says nurses at the Essentia Twin Ports acute care hospital have reached a tentative agreement with Essentia Health to avoid an unfair labor practice strike. Nurses will vote to ratify the agreement in the coming weeks.

Some of the key points of the deal include a one-year freeze on reductions to current staffing ratios, protected Labor Management Committee language, and a wage increase of 9.75% spread over the three years of the contract. 

“I’m proud of my fellow nurses who pushed both sides to find a resolution that kept them at the bedside caring for our patients,” said Rhonda Kazik, chief nurse executive at Essentia. “Nurses are called to this profession because they want to care for others, and we’re grateful to have some of the best in the profession here at Essentia Health. We have prioritized patient care throughout these negotiations and will continue to do so in every community we serve.”

Hospital nurses in the Twin Cities reached a deal yesterday to avert a strike as well.

There are still strikes set to go into effect with clinic nurses on July 8, as well as Advanced Practice Providers from Essentia East Market on July 10.