A nursing strike in San Joaquin County may be averted as the county offers an olive branch.
Nurses had planned a three day strike starting next Saturday over concerns about patient care, safe staffing and personal protective equipment. Board of Supervisors chair Tom Patti said in a statement the board authorized the county to make a one-time payment of $1.2 million, as a sign of good faith. He says this will delay the strike and begin a 45 day cooling-off period in order to give both parties time to negotiate terms that would prevent a walk-out altogether.
The money comes via cost savings from delaying the strike and no longer needing to hire temporary staff. The county and the nurse's union have been unable to reach a new contract since November of 2018.