Hospital administrators and union members at Mount Nittany Medical Center are hoping for an approval today of a tentative contract agreement reached early Friday.

After nearly 12 hours of negotiations Thursday between the Mount Nittany Medical Center and the Service Employees International Union 1199P (SEIU), the agreement was reached around 4 a.m. Friday.

"I really thought both parties worked long and hard into the night to come to an agreement," said federal mediator Chip Gamble.

Gamble and union representatives said no details of the agreement would be released to the media until after union members vote on the contract at 8 tonight.

Officials are optimistic about the contract approval.

"I don't think it's worth striking again," said Scott Young, president of the medical center's chapter of SEIU 1199P. "I think it will still pass tomorrow."

Hospital spokeswoman Maureen Karstetter also said she expected the agreement to pass tonight.

SEIU 1199P, which represents about 450 nurses, medical technicians and maintenance workers employed by the hospital, has been in contract renewal negotiations with hospital administrators since June 30, when the previous contract expired.

Negotiations were temporarily interrupted July 8, when union members voted to participate in a five-day strike, which began July 9 and ended July 14.

In order to reach a tentative contract, Gamble said both negotiating parties have to agree that they have a contract "in principle." Then steps are taken to make the contract official.

One of the sticking points during the negotiations has been mandatory overtime, which union members say comes from inadequate staffing levels at the hospital.

Union representatives have said mandatory overtime requires staff to work up to 16 hours during a 24-hour period, compromising patients' safety.

Hospital administrators said mandatory overtime is used as a last resort.

"The whole system is designed to let them schedule or switch units how they want to," Karstetter said.

She added that schedules are posted a month in advance, to allow the staff plenty of time to plan accordingly and schedule to fit their routines.

Karstetter said union leadership unanimously recommended ratifying the contract, which could make for a much better chance of ratification tonight.

Young said some people were upset and left before voting could take place. He said some people are still unsatisfied with the contract, but that ultimately should not affect tonight's vote.

If a majority does not ratify the contract tonight, union members would file another 10-day strike notice. If in 10 days an agreement still has not been reached, there would be another vote to strike.

To pass, the contract must be signed off on by a majority of union members, Karstetter said. She added that the administration is "very pleased" with the results of Thursday's negotiations.

Karstetter said the vote would probably continue until about 11 p.m.