Forum Health contract talks come to final day on Friday

HOWLAND — An executive said union complaints about executive bonuses at Forum Health are distractions as contract negotiations come down to their final day.

Walter Pishkur, Forum president and chief executive, said negotiations should be more focused because he is prepared to seek bankruptcy court approval to reject union contracts if new agreements aren’t reached Friday.

At a news conference Thursday at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, Pishkur said action is needed because Forum has four months to develop a plan to emerge from bankruptcy court.

He said he was upset that the Service Employees International Union issued a press release this week on the bonuses. The union said it offered to make $2 million in additional concessions but objected to further cuts after learning of the bonuses.

Becky Williams, SEIU Local 1199 president, said bonuses for five executives ranged from $25,000 to $50,000, which she called excessive.

Read more in Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com