Nurses in Minn., Calif., set 1-day walkout plans if agreement isn’t reached with hospitals

Nurses in Minn., Calif. set strike dates

MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of nurses in Minnesota and California say they’ll stage a one-day walkout next month if they don’t reach contract agreements with hospitals.

The separate disputes involve about 12,000 nurses in the Minneapolis area and nearly 13,000 at hospitals across California. Both set June 10 as a strike date.

Nurses in California say low staffing levels are their main concern. The Minnesota nurses cited staffing, pay and pension issues in authorizing a strike.

The Minnesota action would affect 14 hospitals. But hospitals spokeswoman Maureen Schriner says steps are being taken to protect patient safety.