Nurses at Finley Hospital hit the picket line Thursday morning in the start of a three-day strike in a contract dispute.
The Service Employees International Union Local 199, which represents more than 300 Finley nurses, has been seeking a new contract since March. The contract expired in June, and several issues remain unsettled.
Kim Miller, who is organizing the nurses' picketing, said Finley rejected a mediator's request for talks Wednesday.
Hospital spokeswoman Susan Chapman said Finley leaders were still willing to talk by phone, fax or e-mail, but they were concentrating their efforts on preparing for a strike.
"The hospital has to put its patients first, and we are making sure our hospital is prepared," she said.
Lisa Flanagan was among the nurses walking the picket line in front of the hospital on Thursday. She said wages is not the key issue, it's patient care.
Full Story: Nurse strike at Finley begins [Cedar Rapids Gazette, United States]
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