Sharp nurses say they're happy with labor contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070719-1444-bn19sharp.html

By Keith Darce
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

2:44 p.m. July 19, 2007

Sharp HealthCare nurses who were voting on a new labor contract Thursday said the agreement contains much of what their union had demanded during three months of negotiations, including a system to ensure that Sharp abides by nurse-to-patient ratios required by state law.

“We're happy,” said Maria Guerroro, a nurse at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, as she left the Four Points by Sheraton San Diego hotel, where voting was taking place. “I think we did better than we thought we would.”

However, the United Nurses Association of California/Union of Health Care Professionals failed to gain agreement by Sharp to make its seven hospitals and one skilled nursing center “closed shops,” which would have required all of the nonprofit company's 3,400 nurses to join the union and pay annual dues.

About 1,700 of the nurses currently belong to the union, according to union officials.

Union members will continue to cast ballots on ratifying the three-year contract throughout the day. Results of the voting will be announced late Thursday, union officials said.

FULL story at link.