Striking nurses at Fairview Riverside and Fairview Southdale hospitals ratified a new contract and will return to work starting Friday, June 29, the Minnesota Nurses Association announced Monday night.

The vote ends a three-week strike by 1,350 registered nurses against Fairview Health Systems.

Sue Buesgens, chairperson of the MNA team, said the settlement was a result of compromise by both parties. "It's not perfect but it goes a long way to meeting the goals of the nurse group," she said. "Now we can get back to what we know best, caring for our patients."

The new agreement provides salary scales like those of other metropolitan hospitals, the union said. It increases the employer contributions to 75 percent of the family health insurance premiums and provides annual longevity bonuses ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 starting in the last year of the three-year contract. Of key importance to the nurses, the contract allows bargaining unit nurses to temporarily close their unit to admissions when the nursing care needs of patients exceeds the available nurses and alternative resources are not available.

Under the agreement, temporary strikebreakers will cease working at Fairview.

Anpther important provision places limits on the frequency and number of pounds a nurse is required to lift. This takes on greater significance with President Bush's veto of the OSHA ergonomic standards, the union said.