Uploaded: Friday, June 16, 2000 2:30 PM

Talks resume between Stanford hospitals, nurses

Striking nurses and administrators at Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's hospitals returned to the bargaining table today, meeting with a federal mediator as the labor dispute entered its 10th day.

Talks resumed at 10 a.m. this morning after federal mediator Ruth Carpenter earlier this week called the two sides back into negotiations. The nurses and administrators laid the groundwork for today's session at a 4 1/2-hour non-negotiating meeting without the mediator Thursday.

The 1,730 nurses at the two hospitals are striking over pay and other issues.

The nurses' union, Committee for Recognition of Nursing Recognition, is asking for 21.5 percent in pay raises over two years, while the hospitals have offered 8 percent over two years. There are also health benefit and staffing issues.

The nurses walked off the job June 7.

Staff writer Jennifer Kavanaugh contributed to this report