Nurses plan picket

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.mlive.com/saginawnews/2008/01/nurses_plan_picket.html

Posted by JILL ARMENTROUT January 04, 2008 21:20PM

Nurses at HealthSource Saginaw and supporters of their efforts to unionize will picket Monday outside the Hospital Road facility.

United Steelworkers Local 12075 officials said community, religious and labor leaders will gather in front of the facility from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to support union-represented nurses in their effort to obtain a first contract with the county-owned hospital.

The group also scheduled a 4 p.m. news conference. The HealthSource Board of Trustees meets at 5 p.m. at the facility, 3340 Hospital in Saginaw Township.

Negotiations between the 70 registered nurses and hospital management began 15 months ago.

In addition to improving wages and benefits, the nurses seek to enhance patient advocacy and increase staffing to advance patient care and safety, said Leslie J. Curtis of Pittsburgh, international healthcare council coordinator for the Steelworkers. Curtis said she will make a presentation to board members at the meeting.

"I am going to give them some education. If they keep wages at the bottom, they can't recruit nurses with the skills they need," she said.

FULL story at link.