Genesys 1,000 nurses to meet Monday to decide on strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/05/genesys_nurses_to_meet_monday.html

by Ashley Smith | The Flint Journal
Saturday May 10, 2008, 11:12 AM

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan -- Genesys Regional Medical Center nurses will meet Monday about a possible strike, despite Friday night's 30-day extension on continuing contract negotiations.

There is a possiblity the nurses could decide to strike during the 30-day oeriod after giving a 10-day notice, and continue to strike after the extension, Nina Bugbee, Teamsters Local 332 president, said this morning.

About 1,000 nurses will be involved in those discussions at union meetings scheduled at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., where they will be given a status report and details about the next 30 days of negotiations.

In a statement released by Genesys Health System Friday night, Genesys said it will
"continue to operate business as usual."

According to the union, Genesys has proposed cutting retiree health care, pension plans, some health insurance and overtime.

Nurses will continue to report to work as scheduled and under the current contract, according to the Genesys statement.

Bugbee contends the nurses are dealing with a very anti-union and adversarial administration at Genesys.

"It's going to be a long hard road," she said. "But we're up for the walk."