Nurses call off strike Washington Hospital Center and its nurses union have struck a deal to avert a threatened one-day strike scheduled for Nov. 24.
Hospital President John Sullivan said National Nurses United has agreed to cancel the strike notice and to not call any further strikes “during the next few months,” according to an e-mail Sullivan sent to employees, as described by a hospital employee who had seen it.
In exchange, Washington Hospital Center will postpone implementation of controversial new wage rules until March 1.
Md. panel recommends state-run health exchange
Maryland’s Health Care Reform Coordinating Council recommended the state’s new health insurance market, or exchange, be a public, government-run operation with a board to oversee its operations.
But what structure the exchange should take is still a point of contention among the state’s health care leaders. Some lawmakers and health care experts prefer that the exchange take the form of a nonprofit organization to avoid political influence.
The federal health care reform law mandates that each state set up an exchange, a central place where consumers will be able to go to pick an health insurance plan.
Marriott plans growth in Brazil
Bethesda hotel giant Marriott International Inc. said it will expand its presence in Brazil from four hotels to 54.
The company, which has said it will add 90,000 new hotel rooms over the next three years, will develop 50 Fairfield by Marriott hotels in Brazil with PDG Realty SA, Brazil’s largest real estate development company.
SRA completes acquisition
SRA International, which reported record contract awards for its latest quarter, will drum up more business after completing its acquisition of Platinum Solutions Inc.
The Fairfax company announced plans to acquire Reston’s Platinum Solutions for $90 million last month.
Platinum Solutions develops custom software applications and data-management software for government agencies. The company expects sales of $55 million this year.
