Employees at St. Joe's accept 3-year contract

Employees at St. Joe'saccept 3-year contract
YOUNGSTOWN -- Service workers at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new three-year contract with the hospital, Teamster's Local 377 of Youngstown announced.
Highlights of the contract, ratified Saturday at the union hall here, include elimination of a two-tiered vacation system, wage increases each year and additional leave of absence provisions with job protection, the union said in a news release. The union represents more than 200 food service, maintenance, secretarial, clerical, laboratory and X-ray workers.
The contract takes effect Feb. 1, but the first pay raise will be 2 percent Sept. 1, followed by 2 percent March 1, 2008, and 3 percent March 1, 2009. The current pay range of the employees is from about 8.45 to more than 13 an hour, said Ken Norris, the union's recording secretary and business representative.
Negotiations with the hospital ended Friday, and the union's negotiating committee unanimously recommended ratification by the membership, Norris said.
Fire department grants
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, R-Ohio, announced that Ohio fire departments have received 866,030 from the Department of Homeland Security through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program. Among the departments getting grants are: Milton Township, 18,867; Perry Township, 59,898; and Springfield Township, 23,056.
The money can be used for equipment, emergency vehicles, training and other resources.
Seeking judgeship
MERCER, Pa. -- Lorinda L. Hinch announced that she will seek the Democratic and Republican nominations in the primary election for the office of magisterial district judge in District 35-3-01. Hinch has held that office since July 8, 2005, after being appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell and being confirmed by the state Senate. She completed the term of Judge Ruth French, who retired. Hinch worked in the Mercer County district attorney's office from 1986 to 2005 as a supervisory assistant district attorney and later as a first assistant district attorney. She worked in the county public defender's office from 1982-86 and has also worked in private law practice. Hinch earned her juris doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh, where she also completed her bachelor's degree.
Monthly meetings set
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The New Castle Sanitation Authority will conduct its regular monthly meetings at 3 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the authority's business office at 110 E. Washington St. Typically, there are no scheduled meetings in July or August. Authority office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Arnett to speak at SRU
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett, best known for his on-the-scene coverage of the Persian Gulf War bombing for CNN and his TV interview with Osama bin Laden, will deliver a free and open address at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Slippery Rock University. He will speak in the new Advanced Technology and Science Hall Auditorium.