How the key issues were settled

The nurses had proposed formal, contractual ratios limiting the number of patients assigned to each nurse. Hospitals balked, saying it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars without improving patient care. Both parties eventually agreed to "a renewed commitment to working through both parties' staffing issues through the existing committee systems at the various hospitals."

The hospitals had proposed cutting employer contributions to the nurses' pension plan by one-third. The hospitals backed off and the pension was kept whole.

The hospitals had proposed eliminating the nurses' health plan and moving them to the same insurance covering other hospital employees, with higher out-of-pocket payments. The hospitals allowed the nurses to keep their current health benefits.

The nurses asked for a 3 percent raise in each of 3 years. They accepted the hospitals' proposal of 0, 1 and 2 percent.

CHEN MAY YEE