AKRON, Ohio — Citing a tentative agreement with Akron General, 3News has learned the Professional Staff Nurses Association has withdrawn its 10-day notice for an informational picket.
A spokesperson for the Ohio Nurses Association confirmed the update Tuesday morning, saying a formal statement “will be issued soon.”
It was back on Feb. 23 when the Professional Staff Nurses Association, Ohio Nurses Association of Akron General Cleveland Clinic notified hospital executives and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of their intent to picket the hospital from March 6-8.
The organization says union nurses were in contract negotiations with the hospital since Jan. 9 "to discuss top priorities on fair labor practices and staffing."
Here's what officials were saying about the intent to picket prior to the tentative deal:
- “Our nurses are the direct line of care for patients. We don’t feel that we’re able to do our jobs safely under current conditions to provide the quality care our patients deserve,” said Linzi Lentz, Co-Chair of the Professional Staff Nurses Association, Ohio Nurses Association of Akron General said in a press release last month. “Hospital executives continue to disregard our plea for safe patient limits to better serve our patients and community. We are hopeful that picketing will send a strong message to the hospital that we are not backing down.”
- “It’s a shame that Akron General executives don’t value their nurses enough to come to the table and bargain for what patients and nurses need,” said Rick Lucas, BSN, RN, CCRN, Ohio Nurses Association President and Executive Director. “Before the pandemic, nurses were already working hard and long hours every day to ensure the best care possible for our patients. The pandemic made it more difficult with many nurses leaving the bedside. These nurses need a strong contract that collectively allows them to be justly compensated and work in an environment with safe staffing.”
- “We don’t want to strike but are prepared to consider it as an option if Akron General doesn’t put patients and the nurses that care for them over the bottom line,” said Lentz.
The Ohio Nurses Association says it represents more than 700 registered nurses at Akron General.