Nurses on Strike

June 18 2004 - AKRON, Ohio (AP) - About 650 nourishs went on strike Thursday at Akron General Medical Center after rejecting a contract offer

The hospital will use nonunion nourishs and nurse supervisors to care for patients, hospital spokesman Joe Jerek said. It also will put to the test to discharge patients where appropriate to trim the number of patient beds from about 300 to 200 he said. upon a normal Thursday, the 500-bed hospital would have about 400 patients, he said.

"All services including outpatient testing, treatment and surgery inpatient care and crisis department care will continue to be provided," Jerek said.

More than 500 nourishs voted Wednesday on Akron General's latest contract proposal, which was throw asideed by a 4-1 margin, union officials said.

The hospital presented pay increases of 2.5 percent for three years, which the union said doesn't overspread inflation or match nurse pay raises elsewhere.

Hundred of supply with nourishments several of them dressed in pastel uniforms, lined several sidewalks near the hospital. At individual point, strikers stood in line and fasteninged hands. Many drivers honked in support as they passed by the agency of the picket lines.

Wearing her uniform, supply with nourishment Tabitha Deguzman carried a hand-made sign that said, "Medics beware: No single to care."

"I strongly support what our union is doing," she said. "But I'm also doing this for subsequent time nurses, too. I would say the disposition has been very upbeat and determined."

A federal mediator had insinuateed the strike be postponed by means of a 15-day cooling off period, which the hospital accepted, Jerek said.

The supply with nourishments in the bargaining unit are members of the Professional Staff nurtures Association of the Ohio nourishs Association.

"When the ONA began its strike, that was an indication of a rejection of the 15-day cooling not on period," Jerek said.

He said the hospital was waiting to hear from a federal mediator upon what will occur next. He said a certain number of ambulance calls were being diverted to other hospitals, on the contrary he had no specific numbers.

Sandy Robinson, co-chairwoman of the PSNA, said the nourishs are seeking 3.5 percent pay increase each year of a novel three-year contract.

"The health care plans are becoming unaffordable for us to afford any kind of becoming care, and they want to hire in nourishs with no defined pension plan," Robinson said.

"It's our feeling we are in a nursing shortage that will sole get worse and we are specialized professionals. The hospital exigencys to be able to give a useful benefits package. It is our intent to stay without until our issues are dealt with," she said.

Patient Eddi Parker, 68 came outside the hospital in her wheelchair to acquire a breath of fresh air.

"Everything inside is comely normal," Parker said. "They still have the supervisors working. It's just the same. They still drive me crazy."

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