Nurses association ratifies agreement

Staff report

EAST LIVERPOOL

The East Liverpool Nurses Association ratified an agreement Tuesday with East Liverpool County Hospital, the union announced in a news release.

“After months of very difficult negotiations our members voted to accept a new three-year contract,” Mary Kay Hoppel, president of the East Liverpool Nurses Association, said in the release. “In hopes of saving our community hospital for our families and friends who live in East Liverpool our members have agreed to significant increases in our health insurance costs and wage freezes.

“Sadly this contract does not address the major issues that plagued our members during negotiations,” she continued. “Inadequate nurse staffing, mandated overtime, and patient and nurse safety continue to be concerns of ours. However, we nurses are committed to working with this hospital and the community to ensure that this hospital thrives.”

The nurses have been in negotiation with the hospital since April. The union includes 127 nurses represented by the Ohio Nurses Association and is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers.