Hospital, nurses to resume negotiations

Thursday, July 8, 2004 | 11:16 a.m.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1107 and Universal Health Services Inc. have agreed to resume negotiations at 3 p.m. today of a labor contract for nurses at Desert Springs and Valley hospitals.

The SEIU filed a 10-day strike notice June 29 that says its 900 union-represented nurses at both hospitals will go on a protest strike from 6 a.m. July 12 to 6 a.m. July 13 if the union and hospital operator do not reach an agreement. The union is required to give notice under the National Labor Relations Act because patients are involved.

Since late February, the SEIU has been negotiating for higher pay, higher employer contributions to 401(k) plans, more sick time and fully paid health care, which nurses say will improve working conditions, nurse retention and, therefore, patient care. Universal Health has declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiations.

A federal mediator is leading the negotiations and will continue to work with the SEIU and King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health to reach an agreement.

Universal Health's other two Las Vegas Valley hospitals, Summerlin and Spring Valley, are not unionized. The SEIU also represents nurses at Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Inc.'s Sunrise Hospital and Clark County-owned University Medical Center. The union is attempting to unionize the nurses at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, which are owned by San Francisco-based Catholic Healthcare West.