The State : Nurses Vote to Accept Pact

Registered nurses who struck six major hospitals in San Francisco and Daly City voted to accept a contract offer and return to work Wednesday, officials said. The strikers voted by a 77-23 margin to accept a 21% pay increase over 34 months, the California Nurses Assn. said, and will end their 26-day walkout. Slightly over half the 2,200 strikers cast ballots, the association said. The new contract will give the nurses an immediate 8% pay raise, followed by increases of 7% in July, 1989, and 6% in June, 1990. The nurses were making an average of $35,900 to $38,600; the new contract provides for a range of $43,600 to more than $50,000 by 1991.