It's been on the news here all morning. Tehy have B-roll of the nurses holding signs and protesting out in fornt of the hospital. I even saw the CA. Nurse Assoc. emblem on their signs.

How likely are to walk out next week?

May 2, 2006 - Cook County nurses will probably call for a strike this weekend unless progress is made on major contract issues. The National Nurses Organizing Committee is preparing for a possible walkout.

The nurses care for thousands of the area's sickest patients at Stroger, Provident and Oak Forest hospitals and the county's suburban clinics. The union says a decision will be made Saturday depending on the negotiations.

If a strike is called, the nurses will give a minimum of five days notice as required by law. They have been without a contract since 2004.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4134601

Press release - http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2006/march/page.jsp?itemID=27557079&print=t

Chicago Sun Times

...President John Stroger has been away from official duties since suffering a stroke in March...

... "We're having trouble making that determination (of who's in charge). ... But we can't wait forever for them to get their act together."...

...Although county officials say Stroger remains in charge and will be consulted on any major decisions, his family says he is not handling any government or political business....

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/02nurses.html

Whigham says the county has even prepared for a possible nurses strike, but contract talks continue.

http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/31992.php

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Claypool asks who's in charge of county

Election rival raises doubt it is Stroger

...I think it's an important issue to raise. I think it's the elephant in the room," said Claypool. "Right now it might appear, and may in fact be, that unelected bureaucrats are making critical, important decisions that should be made by elected officials as a matter of public policy."...

...Todd Stroger said flatly that his father was not running the county government...

...Steele said that, so far, the board without Stroger hasn't been faced with a major policy decision.

"I'm not really that worried about the day-to-day operations. I think people are doing what they should do," Steele said....

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-060503stroger,1,2512167.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=4858268&nav=menu132_3

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I think negotiating with 1,800 registered nurses is major policy.

Cook County Nurses Won't Strike Before Talks May 17

http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/32888.php?