Nurses to vote Sept. 3 on pact

The pact must be approved by Forum Health’s board and the union.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Registered nurses at Forum Health Northside Medical Center will have a ratification vote Sept. 3 on a new contract.

Forum Health and Ohio Nurses Association/Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association reached a tentative settlement Saturday, the two sides jointly announced.

The negotiating committees from both sides will finalize work on contract language throughout this week, according to the joint press release.

The ONA/YGDNA said it will share the details of the new three-year contract with its members at the September ratification meeting.

Union members and the Forum Health Board of Trustees must approve the contract.

Mediators with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service assisted in the negotiations.

The joint press release from Forum and the union says the new pact “signifies the motivations and commitment to ensure continued high-quality health care in the Mahoning Valley.”

The union’s old contract expired in July. There are 435 registered nurses in the union.

Linda Warino, ONA District 3 director, would not give details about the new contract.

Warino, who was on the negotiating committee, said she thought talks went normally.

“It was typical negotiations,” she said. The situation was strained though, she said, because of Forum Health’s financial problems.

She referred other questions to YGDNA President Eric Williams, who could not be reached.

For Forum, Trish Hrina of communications and marketing said there would be no additional comments at this time.

Registered nurses at Forum Health’s Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland in July approved a three-year contract that includes a 3-percent annual increase each year of the agreement.