UVM Medical Center nurses say they will go on strike

University of Vermont Medical Center nurses say they are going on strike after months of contract negotiations.

The strike would last for two days.

The union plans to deliver a 10-day strike notice to the management of Vermont's largest hospital on Monday morning, nurses union spokesman Keith Brunner said Sunday.

The union plans to host a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

"We are, of course, disappointed," Laurie Gunn, the medical center's vice president of employee, patient and family experience, told the Burlington Free Press Sunday afternoon. "We know it would be a great impact to our community, to our organization."

"We are hopeful to keep the dialogue going so that doesn't happen," she said.

More: What would UVM Medical Center nurses' strike mean for patients?

More: UVM Medical Center nurses vote to authorize strike

Last month, the nurses voted overwhelmingly to authorize a two-day strike.

The lead negotiator for the nurses' union has said the main issues at the center of contract negotiations are the same as three years ago: working conditions, pay and staffing levels.

Gunn said the hospital and the union negotiated through the weekend, and that the notice would not impact negotiations.

"We think that we have a competitive proposal, especially around our wages, on the table," she said. "We hope to continue to talk with the union about how we can reach agreement."

The current contract expires Monday, July 9.

UVM Medical Center management has remained optimistic a strike would be avoided, but has engaged an outside firm to prepare for a strike. Should the strike occur, the firm would provide the hospital with outside nurses.

"We are confident we that will be able to bring in the agency nurses to keep our services going during that time," Gunn said.

Keith Brunner, spokesman for the nurses union just confirmed nurses will deliver 10-day strike notice to UVM Med Center management on Monday followed by an 11:30 am press conference. The nurses are going on a 2-day strike after months of negotiations. #btv #vt — Dan D'Ambrosio (@DanDambrosioVT) July 1, 2018

Contact Will DiGravio at 802-660-1854 or wdigravio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @willdigravio.