Backus Hospital nurses give notice of possible 2-day strike as union and management differ over personal protective gear, pay and insurance
The union representing nurses at Backus Hospital says contract negotiations are painfully slow and put parent company Hartford HealthCare on notice Friday that a brief strike is possible in 10 days.
© Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant/TNS
Nurses at Backus Hospital in Norwich have warned of a possible two-day strike.
The two sides have been in contract talks since June, according to an internal communication from the Backus Federation of Nurses, part of AFT Connecticut, which is bargaining on behalf of more than 400 nurses. Nurses at the Norwich hospital recently authorized a two-day strike and the notice is an attempt to ratchet up the pressure on hospital officials.
The union cited differences over personal protective equipment, pay and health insurance. It said the hospital insists it has the right to change insurance plans at any time without further negotiations and called it “clearly unacceptable.”
The nurses dispute statements by the