SANDPOINT — While not officially on strike, Bonner General Health nurses recently voted to authorize the action if necessary as negotiations with the hospital continue.

A strike vote does not immediately initiate a strike, but legally authorizes the union to call a strike later in the bargaining process if nurses feel a fair contract can not be achieved through negotiations.

In a statement Monday, Bonner General Health officials called the vote “disheartening” and assured the community that patient services will not be affected.

According to the release, BGH officials aim to address issues during negotiations such as continued operational efficiency, staff recruitment and retainment and to make sure staff is competitively compensated.

The hopital proposed a substantial increase in the compensation package it provides to nurses, which hospital officials have been told is acceptable by the union.

One request imposed on the nurses in the maternity and emergency departments is to accept an on-call schedule to ensure the availability of specialized nurses during unplanned absences or fluctuating patient levels occur. Other departments already require an on-call schedule for nurses.

The hospital has also proposed removing a 16-hour notice requirement for occasional nurses. The occasional nurse position was created to fill unanticipated staffing needs on short notice. Currently, occasional nurses are paid a 13 percent premium and time-and-a-half if they are asked to work with less than a 16-hour notice. The hospital believes the 16-hour rule should not apply because the position is specifically designed to be an "as needed" position.

The nurses at Bonner General are represented by Teamsters Local Union 690 in Spokane. Registered nurses voted to join the Teamsters Union in 2006 after ongoing disagreements between the nurses and the hospital were not resolved. According to the Teamsters’ online archives, the nurses attempted to mount a "thorough and extensive" grassroots organizing campaign for 16 months before voting to join the union. It was another 36 months after joining the Teamsters before the nurses ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with the hospital.

According to news reports from 2006, the nurses were unhappy with wages. They also wanted a formal grievance policy, negotiated work rules and a say in hospital policy regarding patient care.

The Daily Bee attempted to contact the Teamsters for comment Tuesday regarding the strike vote and current negotiations, but was told they have no information at this time.