OHSU nurses authorize strike vote 5

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--> --> OHSU nurses authorize strike vote PORTLAND (AP) - Nurses at OHSU Hospital rejected a contract offer Wednesday and said they could vote to walk off the job in mid-December. OHSU officials on Wednesday presented what they called their last, best offer. That offer increased wages by 12 percent over the two-year contract period, gave incentives to long-serving nurses and gave new nurses a signing bonus. But the nurses union, which has rejected several previous offers, said it wouldn't give new nurses reason to seek work at the hospital or keep long-term employees happy. "We couldn't possibly consider this a serious offer," said union representative Kathleen Sheridan. The stalemate means nurses could walk off the job Dec. 17. The hospital's offer provides a competitive wage in the Portland area, said chief negotiator Bonnie Driggers, OHSU's nursing director. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing