Pickets Cross Onto Hospital Property, Security Responds
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A minor shoving match ensued shortly before noon today when pickets at Northside Medical Center took their protest onto the hospital property.
At the conclusion of a rally in front of the hospital held as part of the Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association’s one-day strike at Northside, singing picketers, led by Nate Gunderson, an organizer with the American Federation of Teachers, which the nurses union is affiliated with, marched onto the property and gathered in the covered drop-off area in front of the main hospital building.
After a few minutes, Gunderson was confronted by a representative of hospital security, who was seen grabbing his arm.
“Just some pushing and shoving and then the next thing I knew, everybody’s pulling on each other,” said Don Gaudio, retired business representative with the United Food and Commercial Workers, who reported he was shoved as well in the confrontation.
“They tried to incite violence. We ignored it,” Gunderson said.
'The bottom line is they're not supposed to cross onto hospital property," said Trish Hrina, ValleyCare vice president of marketing and public relations. "We have a right to operate a hospital and they have a right to protest. We just want it to be peaceful."
YGNDA, a unit of the Ohio Nurses Association, which earlier this year affilated with AFT, went on strike starting at 7 a.m. for 24 hours over contract negotiations with Northside Medical Center, an affiliate of ValleyCare Health System of Ohio. The union represents some 400 registered nurses at Northside.
Earlier this morning, labor leaders warned that the standoff between the union representing registered nurses there and Northside’s owners is just the first step. “You know that if they break the nurses here in Youngstown, ... there is a plan, right?” said Gunderson.
“This hospital doesn’t run right without you,” he continued. “You know that things have changed since CHS came to town, right?” He pointed out to the announced plans by Communiity Health System Inc., which owns ValleyCare, and the Cleveland Clinic to purchase the assets of Akron General Health System. “So this isn’t about Youngstown. This is about Ohio. This is about nursing care in Ohio. This is about how patients will be treated in Ohio," Gunderson said.
CHS also is considering the purchase of the Sharon Regional Health System in Sharon, Pa.
Steve Rooney, president of the National Federation of Nurses, took the warning a step further. “You are out here also on the front lines of the battle for nurses across the country because what’s going on here in Youngstown is going on across the country,” he said.
Northside issued a statement shortly after 8 a.m. announcing that it is “continuing to provide high-quality care for its patients” during the strike. “All inpatient, outpatient and emergency services are available and diagnostic procedures are taking place as scheduled,” according to the news release.
“The hospital has fully prepared for the strike and all areas are staffed with highly skilled nurses and other health professionals. Teams of qualified, experienced, temporary replacement nurses are working to ensure uninterrupted, quality care for patients,” the statement continued.
Northside’s public entrances remain open, the hospital said, and security personnel and patrols have been increased.
MORE COVERAGE:
Northside Hospital Says Strike Doesn't Impact Care
Union, Hospital Filing Charges as Nurses Stage Strike
Northside Files Unfair Labor Charges, Threatens Firings
Legislators Urge Northside to Resume Negotiations
ValleyCare Prepares for 1-Day strike at Northside
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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