University Health Services nurses are still working without a contract.

About three weeks ago, the Pennsylvania Nurses Association Local 811 walked out to show their opposition to the University's contract offer. The nurses resumed work a few days later.

Local 811 President Jane Galas said the nurses have yet to hear from the University since the strike.

But Bill Mahon, University director of public information, said the University has not heard from the nurses.

"The University tried to make it clear we're always willing to talk," Mahon said.

The nurses are still asking for a higher salary increase than the University's offer of 2.6 percent that all University employees received, Galas said.

And when compared to some other Big Ten universities, University Health Services nurses' salaries come up short.

Under the old nurses contract, a new registered nurse at University Health Services makes $11.94 an hour, and a registered nurse makes $17.07, said Joanna Moyer, a nurse practitioner in health services and union member.

New nurses at Northwestern University's health services make $13.50 an hour, said Brian Druley, associate director for administration and information systems. But he said most experienced nurses are hired above the base rate and make about $2.50 more than a new registered nurse at University Health Services.

The University of Michigan pays its new registered nurses $16.23 an hour, said Paul Fletcher, staff and relations office assistant.

Rita James, personnel payroll coordinator at Indiana University, said a clinic registered nurse starts at $11.22 an hour.

But this rate varies depending on experience, James said, adding a nurse practitioner at Indiana's health center makes about $21,300 a year.

But money wasn't everything the local nurses cared about. The union also rejected the University's offer to change sick leave benefits, Galas said.

Any nurse hired after Oct. 1, 1992, continues to receive the same sick leave benefits in the old contract, Galas said, adding this produces a two-tier program in the nurses' unit.

Under the University's offer, new nurses would receive one sick day per month, and days would accumulate if not used, she said.

"After sick days are used up, there's no compensation," Galas said.

Nurses hired before Oct. 1, 1992, receive the same benefits as before -- a package based on days of absence.

These nurses are granted a set number of sick leave days per absence, depending on the number of years the nurse has worked for the University, she said.

Galas would not comment on the future plans of the union.