the minnesota nurse's association dropped their demand for mandatory staffing ratios, but both sides agreed to address the staffing concerns through existing committees.
the hospitals dropped their cuts to pensions, health insurance and other staffing changes.
both the hospitals and the unions come out looking pretty bad on this one - to the general public anyway. the hospitals have had to deflect accusations of understaffing - to the chagrin of some nurses who say their departments are well staffed.
the nurses dropped demands on what they always said was the primary issue: staffing ratios. this prompted many cynical observers to claim the strike was "always about money" since the nurses did not have their pensions or benefits cut. the nurses, however, did accept the hospitals proposal of pay raises of 0, 1 and 2 percent.
i'm glad they came to an agreement, but i am disappointed that it took so long and that the one-day strike cost me a competitive internship with allina i had worked hard to win and cannot get back.
