Forum Health, union OK pact extension

YOUNGSTOWN -- Forum Health and the union representing 1,500 employees at Northside Medical Center in Youngstown and Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren have agreed to a contract extension on a labor agreement that expired at midnight Wednesday.
John Gonda, a Forum spokesman, said the new contract deadline is set for midnight April 9, and talks are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Forum has seven contracts with District 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents service and maintenance workers, licensed practical nurses, housekeeping and laundry workers, pharmacists, physical therapists and technicians.
Union leaders have said they want to bring all 1,500 members under a single contract because they believe some groups have been treated better than others under the separate bargaining agreements. Gonda said that issue is one of those being negotiated.
Registered nurses at both hospitals are represented by different unions.