Nurses in the union at Dubuque’s Finley Hospital began their three-day strike Thursday in the ongoing dispute with the administration over wages and benefits. Nurse Lisa Finagan walked the picket line. Finagan says they obviously don’t want to be on the picket line and “We’d appreciate it if the administration would listen to the nurses.”

Finley Hospital CEO John Knox says he was not impressed with the number of nurses on strike. Knox says they had 136 nursing spots to fill and he says 89 of the spots were filled with their own nurses.

The nurses disagree with Knox, saying over 200 nurses are striking in different four-hour shifts. The nurses say they’ll stay on the picket line at the hospital around the clock for the next couple of days.

Radio Iowa