Nurse (1,000) strike begins

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_7009148

Nurse strike begins
By Monica Rodriguez Staff Writer

POMONA - With picket signs in hand, nurses at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center gathered in front of the facility on Wednesday morning and began a five-day strike.

Representatives of the hospital and about 1,000 nurses represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 121RN have been in contract negotiations since April.

However, negotiations stalled in August after the hospital made an offer union representatives said was unratifiable.

The two sides and a federal mediator last met Sept. 20.

No further negotiations have been scheduled.

Representatives of the nurses are ready to resume negotiations, but "the hospital is totally uninterested in returning back to the table," said Sue Weinstein, executive director of SEIU Local 121 RN.

FULL story at link.

In any labor dispute involving nurses, is yeah, we want decent, pay, hours, benefits and safe working environment--Damn straight, but in almost any labor dispute Patient care is right up there. Once you start taking away from nurses, you directly take away from patient care and safety. This is consistent. Thank you.

On edit, I just sent a link to my Union rep. to see how we can express support from my neck of the woods