SEIU approves contract with CHS

Members of the Service Employees International Union District 1199 have approved the union’s contract with Community Health Systems, bringing Forum’s 18-month bankruptcy saga one step closer to conclusion.

The union, which represents more than 1,000 lab technicians and service workers at Northside Medical Center in Youngstown and Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren, voted overwhelmingly to approve the agreement with the hospital’s likely new owner, said SEIU spokesman Anthony Caldwell.

CHS’ acquisition of Forum is expected to be finalized Oct. 1.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Forum’s largest union, reached a tentative agreement with CHS today. The union, which represents nurses and workers at TMH and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland, will vote Sept. 27. CHS. The Ohio Nurses Association, which represents nurses at Northside and Hillside, voted to ratify its contract with CHS earlier this week.

For details, see Thursday's Vindicator or watch Vindy.com.