Allina's offer to the union is a healthy compromise

[Star Tribune, August 12, 2016] Sometimes, the toughest moment in union-employer negotiations is facing the reality that an agreement is actually within reach. Allina Health met that moment several weeks ago, when we concluded that our nurses’ union needed to preserve its current health care plans in order to reach a settlement.

In response, we offered the union a compromise that would keep the insurance plans that 95 percent of nurses currently use. We believe this proposal sets the table for a final settlement. But if you read the most recent press accounts, you might conclude that the union is struggling to accept Allina Health’s “Yes” for an answer. Read the full commentary at startribune.com.