Union negotiators for 3,500 Twin Cities area hospital workers say they've reached a tentative three-year contract agreement covering eight medical centers.

The Service Employees International Union says the proposed contract strengthens health and safety provisions that would benefit workers and patients. The union says the new contract would help limit workers' exposure to infectious agents and would address workers' rights to refuse work in circumstances where they feel their health and safety might be at risk.

The tentative agreement is with Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Fairview Health Services, HealthEast Care System, North Memorial Health Care, and Park Nicollet Health Services (recently merged into HealthPartners), the union said.

It includes wage increases in each of its three years, along with increased tuition reimbursement and pension contributions. The new deal came as the current contract was set to expire.

Union leaders say a vote on the tentative agreement is likely in the next few weeks.