Essentia Health reaches tentative agreement with Sandstone nurses

Essentia Health has reached a tentative agreement with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) regarding the contracts for 28 nurses at Essentia Health-Sandstone. In January, nurses had voted to authorize an unfair labor practices strike citing difficulties with ongoing contract negotiations.

“The agreement recognizes the exceptional contributions of our nurses in providing expert patient care while ensuring these jobs remain among the best in Sandstone and the surrounding communities,” said Anthony Matt, a media relations specialist with Essentia Health. “The proposed contract features cross-facility floating, a care model that gives nurses the choice to pick up a shift at a different Essentia facility to better meet patient needs. The provision also allows nurses at other Essentia facilities to fill shifts in Sandstone to provide support. Cross-facility floating is completely voluntary. In 2024 alone, Essentia ratified more than 20 contracts with individual union groups. Nine of those contracts featured similar cross-facility floating language.”

The new proposed three-year contract would also include a wage increase each year of the contract, including a 3.5% increase in both the second and third years of the contact.

According to Matt, an MNA vote is expected to take place on March 7. A representative from the MNA did wish to provide comment at this time.