(St. Paul) – January 19, 2016 – Minnesota Nurses Association members from five metro hospital systems ratified a new three-year contract that will give them across-the-board wage increases and protect their pensions and health benefits.

The new contract affects 7,000 nurses from Bethesda, Children’s Minneapolis, Children’s St. Paul, Fairview Riverside, Fairview Southdale, Methodist, North Memorial, St. Joseph’s, and St. John’s hospitals.

Last week, nurses authorized their bargaining teams to enter into wage-only negotiations with five of the six hospital systems in the Metro Twin Cities. Only Allina hospital management refused to bargain a wages-only. MNA members and their employers agreed on a tentative agreement on January 14 that established a 2 percent raise for each year of the three-year contract. The new contract takes effect June 1, 2016 and runs through May 31, 2019. Negotiating teams recommended ratification of the contract.

MNA represents about 12,000 nurses in the Metro. About 5,000 nurses work for Allina facilities. Negotiations between nurses and Allina management will begin at a later date.