Minnesota Nurses on Strike Seek Income in Unexpected Ways

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Nurses on strike in Minnesota are finding unexpected ways to pay the bills.

As the strike by thousands of nurses enters week four, some are finding fill-in work as food testers, in hospital roles at the Ryder Cup golf tournament and doing stagehand work at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Allina officials have said nearly 570 of more than 4,800 union nurses have decided to return to work. Officials from the Minnesota Nurses Association say some nurses have left Allina for good in frustration.

When the two sides last talked, they agreed on most issues except over the amount of control nurses should have over the future quality and cost of their health care benefits.

Negotiations with Allina Health are expected to resume Tuesday after a federal mediator on Friday ordered both sides back to bargain.