Workers at Stanford Hospital are planning to hold a rally outside the hospital at 4 p.m. Wednesday in protest of what they say is a lack of progress in negotiations for a new contract.

The workers are members of Service Employees Union International (SEIU), Local 715. The current contract expires Friday, and the union says a strike is possible if an agreement isn’t reached.

The hospital and SEIU are “quite far apart” on the terms for a new labor contract, Gayle Tiller, SEIU communications director, said.

"We are proud of the fact that we put forward what we consider a fair proposal on Oct. 25 and we are currently in negotiations," said Andrea Smith, media relations manager for Stanford Hospital. "We are optimistic that we are near a fair and happy ending to these negotiations."

Issues being negotiated include wages, health care coverage and staffing levels.

— Don Kazak