HealthPartners and SEIU Healthcare Minnesota announced Saturday they have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract, averting a two-day strike scheduled to start Wednesday.
The agreement will go to employees for a ratification vote Tuesday, the union said. SEIU Healthcare Minnesota represents 1,500 non-physician health professionals who work in HealthPartners clinics.
“This agreement demonstrates our shared commitment with SEIU members to delivering outstanding, high-quality care and service that is affordable,” said Mary Brainerd, HealthPartners president and CEO.
Julie Schnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, said, “If ratified by members, this contract will set a standard for the health care industry in the Midwest. We look to other healthcare employers to follow the lead of HealthPartners.”
Both sides agreed not to discuss contract terms.
Saying they were taking a stand to ensure frontline caregivers are heard in critical patient care and staffing decisions, workers on Jan. 30 issued notice of a two-day strike on Feb. 13 and 14. The previous contract expired Jan. 31.
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners family of health care companies serve more than 1 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation.
SEIU Healthcare Minnesota represents more than 14,000 health care workers and is part of SEIU Healthcare, which unites more than 1 million health care workers nationwide.
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