A tentative deal reached between nurses and a Minn. hospital after more than 30 hours of negotiations might avert a one-day strike planned for Tuesday.

The deal between the nurses union and officials from SDMC Medical Center was reached after a marathon bargaining session that began at 10 a.m. Tuesday and lasted until Wednesday, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

The nurses still have to vote on the contract, but the "SMDC Nurses are expected to overwhelmingly ratify their new contract, which covers almost 1,000 RNs at the hospital, during their vote on September 10," the Minnesota Nurses Association, which is recommending the Duluth nurses accept the agreement, said on its blog.

The deal addresses staffing levels that were the cause of much of the fuss, as well as salary increases of more than the "recent pattern of 0, 1 and 2 percent from other nursing contracts in the state," the MNA said. The association said the three-year deal also includes "enhancements" to life insurance packages.

"As a committee we can strongly recommend this contract to you for ratification," the association wrote on its blog. "Finally, we have been able to get the language Twin Cities nurses have had that allows us as RNs to advocate for our patients!"

A contract between the nurses and SDMC in Duluth, Minn. expired on July 1. Bargaining began May 6, according to the nurses association.

The nurses association reached a deal with another Duluth hospital, St. Luke's, last week, after a 17-hour negotiation. The deal, which covers around 450 nurses, was ratified Wednesday after the nurses voted for the new three-year contract with that hospital by a 96 percent margin, the MNA said.

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