Nursing home workers in Connecticut to consider strike delay

District 1199, which represents nearly 4,000 nursing home workers in Connecticut, will meet this week to consider delaying a strike. The workers' contract expired last month.

Tentative strike dates are set for April 13 and April 18. Nurses want better pay, pensions and more staff at 34 homes in the state.

Nursing home owners reportedly are waiting for the federal and state legislature to tell them how much reimbursement money they will get from programs such as Medicare. They then will know how much they can spend.

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell urged lawmakers last month to pass a proposed 6% tax, or user fee, on nursing homes to avert a strike. The proposed tax might allow the state to raise nearly $120 million, which the federal government would add to.