On Wednesday, nurses at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London overwhelmingly voted in support of a strike.

By law, the union must give the hospital 10 days notice before a strike occurs. The union now has the option to strike, but it could reach a resolution with the hospital before the strike occurs.

The union and hospital have three negotiating sessions scheduled before the strike on Nov. 16.

Katherine Martin, Union President said, "We did not get a strike authorization, we got a strike demand. It is imperative that we do what they say."

Administrators were busy making contingency plans for the possible strike by the unionized nurses and LPNs.

The looming strike is based on a dispute over sick-time benefits. The hospital is looking to change its policy that allows 12 paid sick days a year for non-union nurses and technicians that can be carried over to the next year is they go unused. They are looking to change it to allow only five days that can be carried over.