Unionized nurses at Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospital & Health Science System have agreed to extend their contract to Oct. 21 to continue talks, according to a Red Eye Chicago report.
The contract with the hospital and its more than 1,150 nurses, who are represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, was set to expire Sept. 23.
In August, the nurses voted to authorize a strike if a contract agreement could not be reached, according to the report, but a strike would not occur until after the contract expires.
The negotiations, which are being overseen by a federal mediator, have several points of contention, including wages. The nurses are seeking a 21.5 percent raise over three years, according to the Red Eye. Hospital officials say its nurses already earn an average of $106,000, higher than the market average salary.