As the strike against Forum Health Northside Medical Center, Tod Children's Hospital and Beeghly Medical Park entered its first full day Wednesday, union officials said no negotiations have been scheduled. Nurses belonging to Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association walked off the job Tuesday afternoon, and the hospitals have called in temporary nurses.
Main issues are mandatory overtime and safety concerns.
The union will be holding a rally noon Friday at Northside with plans for all striking nurses to attend. On Wednesday, the striking nurses still were getting used to the idea of being off the job and on the picket line. Elaine Edwards of New Castle, Pa., a nurse in the cardiothoracic unit at Northside, said she didn't think it would reach the point that a strike would take place. I can't believe they would spend all this money to bring in scabs. She said she believes the hospital system seems determined to keep mandatory overtime as part of the language in its contract with the nurses' union.