Nurses plan to rally at Baystate

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Nurses from Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield have a demonstration planned outside of the hospital's Springfield location, on Wednesday. This will take place hours before the last negotiating session between management from their hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

If an agreement isn't reached at this meeting, 209 nurses from Baystate Franklin said they'll hold a one-day strike on Friday.

Nurses say the sticking points are overtime pay and their sick day policy.

There have been over two dozen bargaining sessions between the hospital and the nurses union. However each one has ended in a deadlock, which has created a growing concern among those who depend on the hospital. But Baystate Franklin says they have a contingency plan ready--that would keep the hospital open--if the strike takes place in two days.

Both sides are hoping it doesn't come down to that though, and that an agreement is reached by the end of the day, Wednesday.