Minneapolis-based Allina Health and its striking nurses agreed Tuesday to adjourn for the night and continue discussions Wednesday morning, reports the Star Tribune.
Tuesday's bargaining session, prompted by a federal mediator, is the first time the two sides have negotiated since the nurses began their second strike of the summer on Labor Day, according to the article. A key sticking point has been the nurses' health plans.
Both sides ultimately agreed to continue discussions Wednesday.
Also on Tuesday, striking Allina nurses rallied outside the Radisson Blu Hotel in downtown Minneapolis during the annual shareholders meeting of General Mills, which has an executive serving on Allina's board, reports the Star Tribune. The Minnesota Nurses Association, which represents Allina nurses, told the publication it sought to query General Mills Executive Vice President John Church, who is the latest General Mills executive to serve on the health system's board.
The protest disrupted traffic for more than an hour, and nurses ultimately returned to the Minnesota hospitals where they have been picketing, the report states.
According to the report, some nurses were able to attend the shareholders meeting.
General Mills spokeswoman Bridget Christenson told the Star Tribune the nurses "asked a few questions unrelated to General Mills, and we didn't have anything to add."
This is the fourth week of the strike. Facilities affected by the strike are Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis, United Hospital in St. Paul, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Unity Hospital in Fridley.
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