Nurses and Hospitals Reach Tentative Agreement on Nursing Contracts

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Mark Schulz

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Nursing Association (MNA) nurses and various hospitals came to a tentative agreement that will avert the planned unfair labor practices strike scheduled to start on Sunday, Dec. 11. MNA nurses will work quickly to vote on the tentative agreement Specifics of the official agreements remain unconfirmed, but MNA has released a statement detailing the tentative three-year contracts. 

Nurse pay

The MNA press release states the tentative agreements include increases of 18% (7%, 6%, 5%) over three years for nurses in the Twin Cities and 17% (7%, 6%, 4%) for nurses in the Twin Ports, with pay retroactive to the previous contract's expiration.

Preceptor and charge nurse pay

While not detailing the exact increases in rates for these two critical roles, MNA noted that both the Twin Cities and Twin Port agreements will contain pay rate increases for these roles that help train and coordinate the care for patients in hospitals. 

Safe bedside staffing and other workplace safety protections

As part of their tentative agreements, nurses were able to include language to address chronic staffing concerns. The contract language varies for this topic in each agreement. Still, in general, the safe bedside staffing concept will give nurses caring for patients a say in how nurse staffing levels are set and ensure that changes in staffing levels come from a place of agreement between nurses and hospital management.

Minimum nurse staffing

While details of the tentative agreements do not directly mention any minimum nurse staffing ratios, MNA states it will advocate for safe staffing levels during the 2023 legislative session and directs readers to its 2022 legislative advocacy work.  You can read more about the deal in MNA's press release.