Ohio lawmaker calls for withdrawing money from creditors' banks who won't support Forum sale

YOUNGSTOWN — If secured creditors stand in the way of Ardent Health Services’ attempt to purchase Forum Health, the state and local governments and Mahoning Valley residents should withdraw their money from the creditors’ banks, State Rep. Robert Hagan told a labor rally this morning in downtown Youngstown.

“If you continue to try to tear our hearts out, we’re going to hit you in the only place you ever hurt — the bottom line,” Hagan told a rally outside JP Morgan Chase Bank, which is one of the secured creditors.

Hagan was flanked by state Rep. Ron Gerberry of Austintown and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield as he spoke to the media and Forum workers and their union leaders from AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the Ohio Nurses Association and SEIU District 1199.

Also attending were Mayor Jay Williams; Jim Graham, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112 at General Motors in Lordstown; and Atty. Dave Betras, Mahoning County Democratic Party chairman.

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