Unionized nurses at Northside Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio, have planned a one-day strike for next Tuesday to protest unfair labor practices.
The nurses, represented by the Ohio Nurses Association and the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association, have been at odds with Northside Medical Center for several months over negotiations for a new contract. Earlier this month, roughly 100 nurses picketed outside the 398-bed hospital, which is owned by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. Roughly 400 nurses at the hospital have been without a labor contract for 14 months.
In a statement, Eric Williams, president of the YGDNA, said the union wants to resume negotiations and resolve sticking points as soon as possible to avoid a possible strike. The main issues involve patient care, but he said CHS and the hospital have "refused to even discuss" those issues.
In August, the nurses rejected what Northside Medical Center officials said was their final contract offer. The hospital also laid off 77 union and nonunion employees in August.
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