MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of nurses have reached a tentative agreement to end their strike at five Allina Health hospitals in Minnesota.

Gov. Mark Dayton announced the agreement today after a 17-hour mediation session at the governor’s residence.

Rank-and-file members of the Minnesota Nurses Association are expected to vote on the agreement Thursday. The nurses rejected another tentative agreement last week.

The nurses have been on strike at five hospitals in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since Labor Day over issues including health insurance.

Nurses association Executive Director Rose Roach said the latest agreement secures advances for nurses in workplace safety, staffing policies and health insurance.

Allina President and CEO Penny Wheeler said the agreement is “fair to our nurses and sustainable for our organization.”