Daily Reporter
April 15, 2011

CHICAGO — Union nurses at University of Chicago Medical Center have voted to authorize a strike, but an interim contract will keep them on the job until at least the end of June.

Lead negotiator Jan Rodolfo of National Nurses United says the hospital's 1,300 registered nurses voted overwhelmingly for the strike authorization if their bargaining demands aren't met.

Contract negotiations have been under way since August between the union and one of the city's premier hospitals. Negotiations are still ongoing, and an interim contract is in place.

Rodolfo says nurses want to send a strong message that they're serious about fighting for better staffing levels and an end to rotating shifts.

Hospital officials say their nurse staffing levels are consistently ranked high compared to other hospitals.