Nurses at western Pa. hospital authorize strike
Nurses at western Pa. hospital authorize strike
BEAVER (AP) – Nearly all of the more than 500 nurses at a Western Pennsylvania hospital have authorized their union to call a strike if they can’t reach a new contract by the time their current deal expires June 30.
The Beaver County Times reported 90 percent of the nurses at Heritage Valley Beaver in Brighton Township have authorized the strike.
Hospital officials aren’t commenting, saying the current contract remains binding.
But SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania says the nurses are concerned about management changes that the union claims could result in nurses being forced to care for more patients and having to work in departments where they’re not as experienced.
Despite the vote, the sides have been continuing negotiations that began last month.