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SARS Lessons, Part 5: Will Workers Leave?

There were signs in the second phase of the SARS epidemic in Toronto that health care workers were ready to stage walkouts. The reason - partly danger from working around contagious patients. But more basic labor issues also came into play, such as forced overtime and harsh working conditions. If an epidemic takes off and lasts a while, will workers stay on the job? NPR's Joanne Silberner reports.

Copyright 2003 NPR

Joanne Silberner is a health policy correspondent for National Public Radio. She covers medicine, health reform, and changes in the health care marketplace.

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