ONA files objection to Forum sale

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Nurses Association filed the lone objection to the sale of Forum Health to Community Health Systems by today’s 8 a.m. deadline.

In its objection filed electronically on Sunday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Ohio, the ONA said the sale violates work agreements between the nurses’ union and Forum Health.

Specifically, ONA says Forum’s sale motion, among other things, fails to take into account Forum’s obligations under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), seeks to sell Forum’s assets in violation of the CBA, and attempts to circumvent CBA obligations which are binding upon Forum Health and its successors, and fails to make ONA a third-party beneficiary of the purchase agreement as required by the contract.

Forum Health on Thursday declared Community Health Systems’ offer of $120 million as the winning auction bid. ONA represents registered nurses at Northside Medical Center in Youngstown and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland. Forum also includes Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren.