Bangor - Union nurses and hospital administrators at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor are hoping a last-minute bargaining session, scheduled for Wednesday, can avoid a one-day strike next week.

But if negotiations fail, hospital officials say they're prepared to lock out nurses for four more days beyond the strike and hire replacements.
Nurses have been working without a contract since last fall, saying there's not enough staff to take care of patients.

Hospital officials say that's not true.

The nurses went on a one-day strike in November and were locked out for two more.

The hospital hired replacements then, too, which we're told cost nearly $1 million.

Late Tuesday afternoon both sides agreed to meet with a mediator Wednesday to try to reach an agreement.

Hospital officials say if both parties don't sign a tentative agreement and the strike notice is withdrawn by the end of the day Wednesday, replacement nurses will be brought in for five days, starting May 5th.

A union representative tells TV5 they're glad to go back to the bargaining table to try to work out their differences.

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