Hospital Workers Threaten, Implement Strikes Over Contract Negotiations

Hospital workers around the country continue to strike over contract negotiations and other issues, according to various reports.

Contract negotiations between Eastern Maine Medical Center and the 833 unionized nurses who work there came to an abrupt halt late Monday morning, with less than a week remaining before a planned strike, according to a Bangor Daily News report.

If the threatened strike takes place, the hospital has said it will lock out all union nurses for an extra two days. According to the report, nurses at EMMC are frustrated with chronic understaffing and inadequate health benefits.

Around 340 service workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield, Ore., will strike today for 24 hours, according to a Register Guard report. The hospital and SEIU Local 49 workers mediated for 10 hours but were unable to reach a settlement. The main points of contention in contract negotiations have focused on proposed changes to wages and benefits.

Nurses and other unionized professionals at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich., walked away from negotiations with the hospital Tuesday afternoon and may strike Monday if an agreement isn't reached, according to a Lansing State Journal report. The issues at Sparrow Hospital are staffing and retirement benefits.

Read more on hospital strikes:

-Nurses' Union Files Charge Against Michigan Hospital for Unfair Labor Practices

-Minnesota Nurses Prepare for Largest Strike in U.S. History

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