BRAINERD — The nearly 300 nurses who work at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd have a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract, Essentia Health announced Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The health care organization characterized the month-and-a-half-long negotiating process as efficient and productive and said the new contract addresses union concerns around overstaffing.
“We are pleased to reach a deal that is good for our talented nursing colleagues, for Essentia Health and — most importantly — for the patients we’re honored to serve,” said Rhonda Kazik, chief nurse executive at Essentia.
“Our bargaining team was committed to getting an agreement that rewards the expert, compassionate care our nurses provide at St. Joseph’s while ensuring the long-term sustainability of that care. These negotiations were efficient, productive and professional. We appreciate union leadership in Brainerd for approaching these bargaining sessions in good faith.”
The agreement is tentative until the nurses' union votes to ratify it.
The Minnesota Nurses Association did not return a request for comment.
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