Details of nursing contract not released

The terms of the pact are of no value to anyone outside the hospital, the union president said.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Neither union officials nor a spokesperson for Forum Health will release details of a three-year contract ratified Wednesday by registered nurses employed at Forum Health Northside Medical Center.

Members of Ohio Nurses Association/Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association and Forum Health voted to ratify the new contract after more than a month without one, but officials were tight-lipped with agreement details.

“We’re not going to discuss pertinent details of the contract,” said ONA/YGDNA President Eric Williams said, contending that the terms of the contract are “not going to be of any value” to individuals outside the hospital.

Williams said the new contract agreement should eliminate fears that Forum Health Northside Medical Center is in danger of closing.

“If there were issues of an imminent closure, why would they have reached an agreement?” he asked. “[The contract] does address the job security issues of registered nurses and provides continued choice of a five-star-rated hospital in the area.”

Trish Hrina, spokeswoman for Forum Health, also refused to comment on the terms of the final contract.

“Everything I’m able to say at this time is released in the statement,” she said.

The joint statement issued after 10 p.m. Wednesday by Williams and Forum Health Vice President Lisa Johnson states only that they are pleased with the results of negotiations.

As for when details of the pact might be released, Hrina said she was not sure.

“I don’t know if that will change,” Hrina said. “I can’t say that it will happen tomorrow.”

The new contract replaces a one-year pact which expired July 19.

YGDNA represents about 530 full-time, part-time and per diem registered nurses at Northside.