Unionized hospital workers at Toledo, Ohio-based Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center walked off the job May 6, according to The Blade.
The strike comes as hospital officials are in negotiations with UAW Local 2213, which represents about 1,000 nurses at St. Vincent, and UAW Local 12, which represents 900 technical and support employees. The latest negotiations, with a federal mediator, occurred May 4.
During negotiations, healthcare costs and on-call hours have been among the key sticking points.
The unions say issues such as healthcare costs, overtime policies and control over on-call schedules, are necessary for employees to do their jobs, according to CW/ABC-affiliate TV station WTVG.
"We need to have the tools to ensure that we can take care of everybody because they are our family," UAW Local 2213 president Susan Pratt told the station.
Mercy Health spokesperson Maureen Richmond told Becker's hospital officials have worked hard to create a fair contract offer and bargained for more than 450 hours in 56 sessions to reach agreement on most issues that are of concern for employees.
"We have served the Toledo community for more than 163 years, and we are committed to doing so well into the future. We have nurses, service and technical workers from other Mercy Health facilities, as well as replacement nurses, onsite to help us serve patients. Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center and Children's Hospital is open and will care for our community with compassionate, high-quality care," said Ms. Richmond.
More articles on human capital and risk:
ER nurses allowed to combine rest breaks, US labor board rules
New York nurses OK agreements with 3 health systems
Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard reach labor deals, avert nurses' strike