Picket lines formed at 7 a.m. today at Indiana Regional Medical Center as the union representing about 350 registered nurses began the first labor strike in the hospital’s history.þþHospital officials said IRMC would be “fully operational” with a contingent of hundreds of replacement nurses reporting for duty in place of those on the walkout.þþThe union’s collective bargaining agreement with the hospital expired Oct. 31.þþNegotiations for a new contract began in August, and after 12 rounds of bargaining, Indiana Registered Nurses Association leaders served notice that the union would conduct a one-day strike to press its demands.þþThe sides are separated over wages, health insurance, paid time off and other issues.þþIRMC administrators said an agreement with an employment agency requires the hospital to provide five days of duty for the replacement workers, meaning that IRMC would lock out striking union members from Tuesday to Friday. Hospital leaders said union members who cross the picket line for their assigned shifts today would be allowed to work the balance of the week.
Source: www.thecourierexpress.com
