BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Hundreds of unionized nurses in Bellingham plan to picket over negotiations for a new contract with PeaceHealth.

The Washington State Nurses Association says nurses will hold an informational picket outside PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center on April 29 unless an agreement can be reached before then.

It’s the latest development in stalled negotiations between the hospital and 1,100 nurses represented by the union.

Union representatives say health insurance and wages remain the biggest sticking points in contract talks, along with a “feeling of disrespect from management.”

PeaceHealth spokesperson Amy Drury said the following in a statement to My Bellingham Now:

“We understand how important our contract is to our caregivers, and we look forward to reengaging in constructive, good faith bargaining later this week to reach an agreement that is fair, competitive and sustainable for our medical center and our community. Our current offer for WSNA-represented caregivers would provide wage increases between 12% and 30%, over 3 years.

Note that picketing is neither a strike nor a refusal to work, and PeaceHealth respects the rights of our caregivers to conduct this activity. Our shared focus remains on providing safe, high-quality and compassionate care to the people in our communities.”

My Bellingham Now previously reported that union members voted to reject PeaceHealth’s latest contract offer last month. Their previous contract expired on March 31.

The union says both sides remain “far apart” on a new contract but are scheduled to meet in two more bargaining sessions on Thursday and Friday, April 17 and 18.

Its announcement comes days after the hospital’s service and technical workers voted to authorize a strike.