500 Contra Costa nurses have tentative contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_8717196

By Andrew McGall

STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 03/27/2008 11:23:45 AM PDT

MARTINEZ - Contra Costa County has reached a tentative contract agreement with its hospital registered nurses after five months of bargaining.

Nurses are expected to vote on the pact Friday, County Administrator John Cullen said in a news release. If ratified, the contract with the California Nurses Association would continue for 19 months.

The pact covers more than 500 registered nurses at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, health centers and several other locations. It will be in place for approximately 19 months.

Details of the agreement will be released after the ratification vote, he said.

The nurses had planned a three-day strike on March 21, but last-minute talks led to its cancellation.

A separate, 10-day strike by nurses at Sutter Health hospitals around the Bay Area began March 21 and is continuing.