MINNEAPOLIS, July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The registered nurses and the hospitals believe a settlement of the labor agreement at this time is in the best interests of patients and our community.

Minnesota Nurses Association and the fourteen hospitals that have been engaged in negotiations since March have reached agreement with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on the terms for new collective bargaining agreements. The contract settlement is subject to ratification by the registered nurses represented by the Union, but the Union's negotiating committees covering all fourteen hospitals have agreed to favorably recommend the settlement for ratification.

Minnesota Nurses Association and the hospitals have agreed to a renewed commitment to working through both parties' staffing issues through the existing committee systems at the various hospitals.

The affected hospitals are Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Bethesda Hospital, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Fairview Southdale Hospital, Mercy Hospital, North Memorial Medical Center, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, Phillips Eye Institute, St. John's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, United Hospital, Unity Hospital and the Riverside campus of University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

SOURCE Twin Cities Hospitals; Minnesota Nurses Association