YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Nurses at Northside Medical Center in Youngstown will stage informational picketing at the hospital on Tuesday.
The some 400 union nurses were meeting with their leadership Monday for an update on negotiations and to vote on what was described as internal union matters.
The nurses recently voted to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers, which will give the nurses a national voice.
"AFT has currently 48,000 nurses, so with the Ohio Nurses Association's 30,000 it makes AFT one of the largest RN unions in the country. So it definitely gives nurses here in Youngstown a stronger voice," said AFT Representative Darren Nedrow.
In a full-page newspaper ad, Community Health Systems congratulated Northside for being among the top five-percent of hospitals receiving the distinguished hospital award.
At the same time, nurses also are running ads, including a TV spot asserting that CHS is putting expansion and profits ahead of patient care and not giving nurses the treatment they deserve.
"I don't think that we are as important as their bottom line," one long-time Northside RN says about the ad.
A statement from CHS says, "Everyday at Northside we strive to provide the highest level of quality and safety to our patients".
The Northside nurses have been without a contract since last July and no talks are currently scheduled.
The day of action picketing on Tuesday will also be taking place at CHS facilities in several other states.
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