Hospital workers vote to strike

COON RAPIDS (AP) -- Nursing assistants, dietary aides, janitors and other workers at Mercy Hospital voted 318-31 Friday to authorize a one-day strike.

"This shows the membership is committed," said Rick Varco, spokesman for Local 113 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 650 hospital workers who have been without a contract since Feb. 28.

The union must file a 10-day notice before actually striking, Varco said. The one-day strike likely will be held April 3 or 4, he said.

Contract negotiations were continuing.