Northside nurses set up informational picket line Wednesday

YOUNGSTOWN — Registered nurses at ValleyCare Northside Medical Center will have informational picketing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the hospital on Gypsy Lane.

Eric Williams, president of the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association, which represents the 400 registered nurses at the hospital operated by ValleyCare Health System of Ohio, has said negotiations with Community Health Systems, Tennessee-based parent of ValleyCare, have been difficult.

The work agreement between YGDNA and CHS expired July 19. The last negotiations were scheduled Aug. 16. The nurses also set up informational pickets Aug. 15.

Williams said the major issues are inadequate staffing, which he said puts patients and nurses at risk, and pay. He said many nurses have not received a pay raise in seven years.

The union has also distributed informational pamphlets in the community, and the YGDNA membership previously authorized its union’s negotiating team to give a 10-day strike notice to ValleyCare. The notice has not been given.