Marathon bargaining session results in contract between Children's, nurses

Nurses
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There will be no nurses strike at Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities.

The nurses union and hospital reached agreement on a new three-year contract early Saturday morning after a marathon, round-the-clock negotiating session.  

MNA Nurses Reach Agreement with Children's Hospitals - https://t.co/nzcyDUUk52

— Minnesota Nurses (@mnnurses) June 15, 2019

Union officials say they are recommending the rank-and-file vote to accept the settlement, which comes two days after the nurses at Children's authorized a strike.

The two sides compromised on both issues, which were considered major stumbling blocks in earlier talks.

The raises reportedly are 3%, 3%, and 2.25% for the three years of the deal.

Hane said hospital negotiators presented what they said was their final offer around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

"I feel like we did the best we could do," Hane said. "It feels really good."

In a statement, the union said members are happy the hospital recognizes that insurance costs are important in attracting and retaining nurses.  

RELATED: Nurses working without contracts in the Twin Cities

The union had authorized a strike at Children's earlier in the week before the 21-hour bargaining session that started Friday morning.

That strike authorization was officially withdrawn on Saturday, and a vote on the compromise is on Thursday.

Contract talks continue for nurses at five other Twin Cities hospitals: Allina Health, Fairview Health, HealthEast, Methodist Hospital, and North Memorial Medical Center.