Thousands of Allina Nurses Voting on Contract
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Union leaders representing about 5,000 nurses in the Twin Cities predict members will reject the latest contract offer from Allina Health, setting the stage for a strike at four hospitals.
The nurses work at Abbott Northwestern, Mercy, Unity and United hospitals. They vote Monday on a contract many members say shifts too much of health care costs to the nurses. Allina says it wants nurses in a health plan similar to its other employees.
Allina nurse Angela Becchetti tells reporters the offer is a high-deductible plan with higher out-of-pocket maximums.
Allina says moving the nurses to its corporate health plan would reduce its health costs by $10 million a year.