The more than 1,000 nurses who work at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and other county clinics and facilities could walk off the job after voting on to authorize a strike, the nurses' union announced April 9.

The action comes after the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this week to end negotiations and unilaterally grant nurses a 6-percent pay increase for the coming year. The union had been seeking an 8-percent increase.

"The county's decision to leave the bargaining table is an insult to the 1,300 nurses who work in our hospitals and clinics, caring for patients daily," said Liz LaRosa, vice president of the Registered Nurses Professional Association. "We view a strike as a last option but with the county refusing to negotiate, they leave our nurses with little other options."

The union says the nurses need the higher pay raise to remain competitive with other area hospitals. Valley Medical Center is the lowest paying hospital in the region, which has led to severe staffing shortages, according to LaRosa.

"The emergency room at Valley Medical Center is closed 25 to 50 hours a month due to inadequate staffing and nurses are being asked to take on unsafe patient loads. This is unacceptable to nurses and should be unacceptable to our patients," LaRosa said.

PG&E offering tips
for a safe Arbor Day

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is reminding those planning to plant new trees for Arbor Day, April 29, to choose carefully a location that will not interfere with power lines or underground lines when the tree grows up.

"Careful planning of the variety and location of tree planting can help prevent future problems with vegetation encroaching on power lines that can create public safety hazards and interrupt power service," said Steve Tankersley of the vegetation management program.

The company suggests that Arbor Day planning should consider that trees that will grow taller than 25 feet should not be planted near power lines and to give a 10-foot clearance for power lines.

Employees at local nurseries will know about tree species and their mature heights, and websites such as www.safetree.net or www.arborday.org post lists of trees recommended for planting near power lines.

Arbor Day planters should also be sure not put new trees near underground utility transformers or other equipment like green boxes seen in residential areas, and to dig safely when planting and know where underground utilities like gas and electric lines are located. Call Underground Service Alert at 800.227.2600 and someone will come out and mark where utilities are for free.

Sobriety check; seven arrested

The San Jose Police Department's Traffic Enforcement Unit ran a sobriety checkpoint on Kooser Road between Blossom Hill Road and Meridian Avenue on April 9 from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. the following morning.

During the six-hour span, there were seven arrests made for DUI violations, 15 drivers were cited for license violations, 19 vehicles were impounded and 380 vehicles passed through.

A grant form the Office of Traffic Safety funded the checkpoint.