Nurses in Duluth have avoided a strike after they reached a deal with employers. Essentia Twin Ports acute care hospital nurses reached a tentative agreement on July 4, and will vote to ratify the agreement in the upcoming weeks. Nurses in the Twin Cities also reached a tentative deal with their employers on July 3.

DULUTH — Essentia Health has reached a tentative contract agreement with acute care hospital nurses in the Twin Ports, averting a strike that was set to begin next week.

Negotiations have been taking place since March, and nurses in the Twin Cities and Duluth voted last week to authorize a strike. Duluth-area nurses planned to begin a strike on July 8, with workers at Essentia's East Market Advanced Practice Providers announcing a strike date of July 10.