Nurses at Minneapolis-based Allina Health voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest offer by the health system and authorize a strike, according to a Star Tribune report.
The Minnesota Nurses Association, which represents the 4,800 workers, announced the news Monday, noting that nurses voted by more than a 66 percent super majority.
The contract offer rejected by the nurses would have eliminated union-backed health insurance and moved the workers to plans that other health system employees receive.
Nurses at the voting locations said they wanted to keep their current health benefits or didn't want to give them up without concessions, according to the report.
"For me, part of it is about them not wanting to address anything unless we were willing to give up a major benefit," Eva Phelps, a nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, told the Star Tribune. "I need to see a true effort on their part."
In a statement, Allina, which anticipates it would save $10 million by eliminating the union-backed health plans, expressed disappointment at the rejection of the contract offer. The health system said it is "ready to meet with the union whenever they are, but any meeting must include a meaningful discussion about the health plans," the Star Tribune reports.
The MNA said its negotiating team will meet to plan union's next steps. The union must give Allina a 10-day notice of any strike.
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