Genesys Regional Medical Center sent out a press release Saturday night saying Sunday it will, “implement its last, best, and final offer.”

It is talking about a contract offer made in June affecting nearly 300 technical employees represented by the Teamsters.

A vast majority of these employees voted down the hospital’s proposed contract deal.  The union says workers are ready to strike if Genesys managers continue to refuse to return to the bargaining table. 

“We have declined Teamster's leadership request to resume bargaining.  The Teamsters have given us no indication that negotiations would proceed any differently than the first seven months of bargaining where Teamsters leadership’s focus was elsewhere and not on what was best for our technical  employees and community,” responded Tammy Saunaitis, vice president of Human Resources at Genesys Health System Saturday.

Union members have said cuts in health benefits in the previously suggested contract are unacceptable.  They say care will be affected at the medical center if they strike.

The medical center says it is prepared to use temporary replacement workers.

Teamsters Local 332 has scheduled meetings with its members for Monday and Tuesday.  It is asking Genesys RNs who are also Teamsters members to support technical workers should there be a strike.