A federal mediator will try to jump start deadlocked contract negotiations between thousands of Minneapolis/St. Paul nurses and a consortium of 14 area nonprofit hospitals by bringing the two opposing sides back to the negotiating table Thursday, June 24, for the first meeting in 20 days, reports the Star Tribune. The move comes following a "yes" vote by the nurses on Monday to hold an extended strike after their June 10 one-day strike failed to gain them any traction in negotiations with hospital management. Eighty-four percent of the nurses voted for an extended strike compared to the 90 percent who had voted for the one-day strike, reports the Pioneer Press. (Strike authorization requires 66 percent support, and a 10-day notice of intent to strike.) FierceHealthFinance