Montefiore, Nurses Union Avert Strike

NEW YORK (AP) -- A strike by unionized nurses at a major New York City hospital has been averted following a successful contract negotiations between management and labor officials.

The New York State Nurses Association and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx said Friday they had reached a deal for a new, four-year contract. Montefiore called it a "fair settlement." Union officials said the contract "made important advances" on their issues, including staffing levels and health care.

The nurses said earlier this week that they would strike Jan. 10 if they failed to resolve issues over staffing.

The association represents about 2,300 nurses at the hospital.

The union also reached agreements with St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, The Mount Sinai Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian in Manhattan in recent days.

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