LORAIN – Contract negotiations between Mercy Regional Medical Center and its nurses are also about the community, members of the nurses said today during an informational picket outside the hospital at 3700 Kolbe Road.
“We sit beside you at church, buy groceries at the same grocery store and we work together to take care of our community,” said Sue Morano, a Mercy nurse and executive board member of the Service Employees International Union District 1199, which represents the union. “We are the community (and) we love what we do.”
The nurses contract expired Friday after negotiations stalled over benefits, wages and staffiing.
Hospital officials say nurses earn about $4 more per hour than at area hospitals — a figure the union disputes. Hospital officials say they are facing a projected $5 million reduction in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements this year and have asked the union to accept reduced benefits comparable to what nonunion workers at the hospital receive.
A federal mediator is scheduled to take part in negotiations Tuesday.
See Tuesday’s Chronicle-Telegram for the full story.
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