About 500 union workers at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital will be able to vote Wednesday on a new contract following further negotiations with the hospital this week.

The union representing the hospital's vocational nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory, radiology and lab technicians and other support positions announced Friday that the union negotiating committee is recommending approval of the latest contract offer.

The United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America union members have been working without a contract since Jan. 31. Members voted down the hospital's proposal on Feb. 7 largely because the pay raises, insurance benefits and bonuses do not keep up with cost of living increases, according to union representative Leanna Noble.

The hospital's Chief Human Resources Officer Mark Puleo said, however, that the base wage increase of 3.25 percent is greater than the 3.2 percent cost of living increase reported by the Department of Labor.

Noble has said that the union workers intend to continue showing up at work through negotiations.

Member voting will end at 8 p.m. Wednesday.