Support staff at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio, will decide whether to authorize their union representatives to call a strike, The Blade reported.
The strike authorization votes are scheduled for Oct. 26 and Oct. 29. They cover about 877 nurses represented by United Auto Workers Local 2213, as well as 1,153 X-ray technicians, therapists, housekeepers and other support staff represented by UAW Local 12.
UAW Local 2213 Chairman and President Susan Pratt told The Blade per-patient staffing levels and dispute resolution processes are key sticking points in negotiations. UAW Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower said key sticking points for his local include wages, staffing levels and health insurance and pensions.
"Negotiations have been very difficult, as they always are," he said.
Mercy Health officials told The Blade there has been "significant progress" in negotiations for technicians and service workers and that efforts will continue to reach an agreement. They also said staffing changes based on patient volume and need.
"We continue to negotiate in good faith and are committed to working with the UAW on reaching agreements that recognize the hard work and dedication of our employees, while balancing the need to offer affordable and accessible healthcare to our community," they said.
"For more than 160 years, our mission has been about providing the highest quality of care to our patients and we will never waiver from that commitment," they said.
Both locals have contracts that are set to expire soon.
More articles on human capital and risk:
Some healthcare workers at California hospital don't want to remain unionized
Pennsylvania nurses authorize strike
University of California workers go on strike