Union, Forum begin talks

The nurses unions independently confirmed Forum's dire financial condition.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- One Forum Health nurses union has begun formal contract renegotiations and another stands ready to come to the bargaining table.
The Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association/Ohio Nurses Association, which represents about 770 registered nurses at Northside Medical Center, Tod Children's Hospital and Beeghly Medical Park, began talks with Forum Health on Monday, Eric Williams, YGDNA president, said.
Williams confirmed a two-hour negotiating session with Forum officials occurred at which the two sides exchanged proposals. However, he would not discuss details of the meeting.
He said the union agreed to talks after independently confirming much of the financial information that Forum had provided about its eroding financial condition, and at the direction of the membership. He said no new meetings have been scheduled.
Forum officials are projecting a $60 million loss this year if a "radical restructuring" is not accomplished. Among the changes sought by Forum are a wage freeze and $24 million to $25 million in benefits concessions from unionized employees.
Dr. Keith Ghezzi, interim Forum chief executive officer and president, has repeatedly said Forum would seek a deal with unionized employees similar to the one imposed on non-union and salaried employees a couple months ago.
In it, wages were frozen, the retirement package was changed to a 401(k) plan and medical health co-pays were instituted, all of which Ghezzi said will save the health-care system $5 million a year.
Ready to talk
Thomas Connelly, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Local 2026, said he is willing to enter into negotiations any time.
Local 2026 represents about 450 registered nurses at TMH in Warren and Forum's outpatient surgery and urgent care facility on Elm Road in Bazetta Township.
Connelly said his union's national office has come to the same conclusion about Forum's finances as Forum itself.
"We believe Forum is being straight with us," he said.
"We're intent on being open-minded and staying engaged with Forum. We are not interested in an adversarial position at this time," Connelly said.
"There are two different environments at TMH and Northside. In Warren, we're concentrating on maintaining health services in the community and our jobs. We work at Trumbull Memorial Hospital because we want to take care of our families and friends. When this is over, we believe TMH will come back bigger and better," Connelly said.
But, Connelly said, "we are still obligated to stay marketable. We will try to help the hospital, but we have to minimize the damage to our union members as well."
alcorn@vindy.com