Twin Cities nurses, representing 14 hospitals, voted against the proposed contract - 9 to 1 - Wednesday night.

The hospitals now have 10 days to try to renegotiate before the nurses legally can go on strike. Hospital spokeswoman Maureen Schriner told DOTmed News in a story published Tuesday [see DM12737] that "negotiation is always, always on the table."

"Our nurses felt like they want to deliver a message that has maximum impact on the employer in terms of hospital systems," John Nemo, Minnesota Nurses Association spokesman told DOTmed News earlier this week. "These nurses are serious and not willing to accept the contract on table."

The strike, which likely won't take place until after the current contract expires on June 1, is expected to be a one-day strike, according to the union.

But Schriner said that if a contingency plan is put in place, which calls in replacement nurses, Minnesota's nurses wouldn't return to work after just one day.

"A one-day strike, any hospital knows that it's not one day," she said. "They may say they strike one day, but nurses wouldn't return to work [after one day]."

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