WATCH: Striking Nurses Block Downtown Minneapolis Traffic

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — About 250 striking Allina Health nurses blocked rush-hour traffic in downtown Minneapolis Tuesday morning while holding a rally outside the Radisson Blu Hotel.

The hotel was the location for a General Mills shareholder's meeting.

Nurses demonstrated there because General Mills Executive Vice President John Church is chair of the Allina Health board of directors, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) said.

Allina Health's roughly 4,800 nurses began striking Labor Day, Sept. 5.

The Star Tribune reported that the protest disrupted traffic on E. 7th Street near Hennepin Avenue.

Metro Transit buses were rerouted and subsequently delayed. Police stepped into the protest in an effort to clear the road. Authorities said the roughly 250 participants were cooperative and none were arrested.

Federal mediators notified the MNA last week that they are calling the nurses and Allina Health back to the table to resume negotiations. The parties meet today.

The cost of health benefits has been a major source of disagreement between the two parties.

According to KSTP, the strike impacts five metro hospital, including Abbott Northwestern, United, Mercy, Unity, and Phillips Eye Institute.

Image via Randy Stern, Flickr, used under Creative Commons