Centralia nurses union gives OK for strike

By Jim Szymanski | The Olympian • Published April 18, 2008

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CENTRALIA – Nurses at Providence Centralia Hospital have voted to authorize their union to set a strike date.

Talks to arrive at a three-year labor agreement began a year ago, hospital spokesman Chris Thomas said Thursday.

A spokesman for United Staff Nurses Union Local 141 could not be reached for comment.

The union's next move could be to set a strike date, but Thomas said he had not heard of one.

"We're just trying to get back to the (bargaining) table," he said.

The previous nurses' labor contract expired in June, according to a union announcement.

The hospital's last contract offer called for pay increases ranging from 12 percent to 17 percent over the life of the three-year term, Thomas said.

Nurses have been reporting for work as normal, and no hospital services have been compromised, he said.

Jim Szymanski is business editor for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-357-0748 or jszymanski@theolympian.com.