Nurses cancel threatened strike in Hibbing

Registered nurses have canceled a strike that was threatened against a Hibbing hospital next week.

Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association pulled their strike notice after progress was made in a 12-hour bargaining session Thursday with Range Regional Health Services hospital.

The strike was scheduled to begin Wednesday and last three days.

The MNA says a federal mediator made a proposal that both sides feel is worth being voted on by union members.

Both sides agreed that proposal details won't be released until everything is verified in writing. Once formalized, the mediator's proposal will be put to a vote by the 150 nurses at the hospital.

Negotiations on a new contract have been going on since last September.

Range Regional spokesman Mitch Vincent says the hospital is relieved a strike has been averted and is hopeful the nurses will ratify the proposal.

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