Union workers called off a five-day strike set to begin Saturday at the St. Therese nursing home in New Hope after winning a tentative agreement that guarantees a recent $5 raise will become permanent.
Nursing home and SEIU Healthcare MN & Iowa union officials confirmed Thursday that the strike was called off after both sides met during an all-day session Wednesday to hash out disagreements.
A letter was sent to patients and their families Thursday notifying them there would be no strike and thanking them for their patience.
About 200 workers called for the strike late last week after learning about plans to sell St. Therese to Compass Healthcare, a for-profit company, effective Aug. 1.
SEIU officials and St. Therese workers said they were surprised by the sale and worried the new owners might not honor recent pay adjustments because they were not formally included in a new contract agreement.
The previous contract expired in October, and workers said efforts to secure a new pact had gone nowhere. They also complained that the nursing home declined to make the $5 raise, or “adjustment,” permanent by putting it in writing.
The disagreement over the sale and pay prompted the strike decision, which drew concern from patients, their families and the state. Minnesota Department of Health officials said they met with the nursing home this week to review strike plans and ensure patient safety in the event the nurses, assistants and janitors walked off the job.
Union members still must ratify the tentative agreement.
