In letter, mayor expresses concerns

A union leader asked where the mayor has been the past 13 months.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mayor Jay Williams said a high-stakes game of "chicken" is being played between Forum Health management and the employee unions at Northside Medical Center that is not in the best interest of the community.
Williams, in a letter to elected officials in Mahoning and Trumbull counties dated Feb. 23, said he understands there will be a briefing on the situation in the coming weeks for elected officials.
He suggested the officials meet before that to develop a list of questions and actions to be presented to both Forum Health and the unions.
The Service Employees International Union District 1199 and the Ohio Nurses Association/Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association are involved in contract negotiations with Forum Health.
Dr. Keith Ghezzi, Forum's interim president and chief executive officer, says concessions from the unions are necessary for the successful turnaround of the financially troubled health-care system.
The unions say that they are willing to work with Forum but that the concessions asked for are too drastic without first exploring other avenues for decreasing costs and increasing revenues.
Concerned for city
In his letter, Williams said he is concerned that when the issue finally reaches a breaking point, all of the decision makers will return to their respective communities and will not have to live with the potential ruins that will remain.
David Regan, president of SEIU's District 1199, reacted angrily to what he perceived as Williams' characterizing SEIU as an outsider.
"It is totally untrue and unfair to characterize SEIU members as outsiders," he said.
Regan said that while he does not live in the Youngstown area, neither is he a decision maker. The members vote on the stands the union takes and on whether or not they will accept a contract.
SEIU represents 1,500 people who work at Forum Health and who live and pay taxes in this community, and another 1,500 members who work and live in the community who do not work for Forum, he said.
Union leader's reservations
Regan said he welcomed Williams' involvement in the situation, but wondered where the mayor has been the past 13 months.
"Williams has never called me once to say how can we solve this and what can I do," Regan said.
Regan said some local SEIU members met with Williams within the past two weeks, which he said was the first formal meeting between SEIU and the mayor.
In his letter, Williams said he is concerned that Northside could be sacrificed by either or both sides in an effort to "force the hand" of the other.
He said he understands that management must contemplate decisions that are in the best interest of the business, and the unions must contemplate decisions that are in the best interests of its members.
Williams said, however, it is his belief that in the process the interests of the community are being trampled.
"We must do everything in our power to compel the parties to keep the interests of this community above all else," Williams said to his fellow elected officials.
alcorn@vindy.com