Sharp HealthCare Nurses Agree To Continue Negotiations
Nurses at San Diego-based hospital chain Sharp HealthCare on Friday agreed with management to reopen contract negotiations on Wednesday and delay filing a 10-day notice to strike, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The nurses on Thursday night voted to reject Sharp's contract offer and authorized the union to file a strike notice, which it still can do at any time (Berestein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5/29). The two sides have so far failed to reach a consensus over wages and state nurse staffing rules. Sharp representatives have said that the union's desire to require all nurses to apply for union membership, which currently is optional, is contributing to negotiation difficulties. If the union does not agree on a new contract, as many as 2,800 nurses represented by the Sharp Professional Nurses Network -- a local affiliate of the United Nurses Associations of California -- at all five Sharp campuses could take part in the strike (California Healthline, 5/28). Union President Chris McGovern said the return to the bargaining table is "a good thing for everybody," adding, "We want an agreement. We don't want a strike." Under the agreement, negotiations will continue through 7 a.m. Monday, when the existing three-year contract is set to expire (San Diego Union-Tribune, 5/29).
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