Hadassah nurses return to work

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hadassah Medical Center nurses and general staff returned to work after meeting with hospital officials.

Wednesday’s return to work came after a  sleep-in protest at the hospital overnight Tuesday,  and a meeting between hospital officials and nurses and staff. Doctors remain on strike.

Under the agreement, anyone making 15,000 shekel, or nearly $4,300 a month, will receive their full salary. Those making more will receive gradual cuts. No hospital layoffs will occur until April 14. Hundreds of layoffs are expected, according to reports.

Hospital staff received only half their January salaries, due to the deficit.

Hadassah doctors are continuing to negotiate, while seeing emergency cases only.

Last week, the Hadassah Medical Center, with two campuses in Jerusalem, was given a 90-day stay of protection from its creditors in order to deal with its accumulated $357 million deficit.