Some represent nurses in labor matters, malpractice cases or disciplinary proceedings.

The unions, representing teachers, nurses, the police, prison guards and social workers, are seeking 10 percent.

A lobby group representing nurses ran television commercials attacking the Liberals on this point.

The union held 20 elections between 1981 and 1993, but lost 11 of them - including many at hospitals where the union already represented nurses.

A larger strike, set to begin Tuesday, has been called by unions representing 800,000 teachers, nurses, police officers and other civil servants.

The College of Nursing Established in 1949 as a professional body to represent, assist, educate and support nurses.

The foundation represents doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals who are homosexual.

Other contributors are groups representing surgeons, radiation therapists, nurses and the drug industry.

From 1987 until his election in 2004 Nava was a civil litigator, primarily representing nurses and health care practitioners.

The opposition has been joined by much of the state's medical establishment, including organizations representing doctors, hospitals, nurses, and patients.