Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Bermuda Public Service Association.

Labour Relations Officers will meet with both parties to find out what the issues are.

Nurses say they are unhappy with pay and conditions at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and St. Brendan's.

Last night Labour Minister Paula Cox said her department had been notified by fax of the looming strike.

She said: "We are in the process right now of going through that but it would be premature to say whether the matter will go to arbitration.

"We have to look at what the issues are and decide whether they are issues which can be dealt with by arbiter.'' She said she will be meeting with the Labour Relations Office to go through the information.

Under the Labour Relations Act the Minister can send the matter to binding arbitration or she can suggest voluntary mediation.