Although union leaders and employees with Forum Health say they're still waiting to hear directly from officials at Community Health Systems, Youngstown's Mayor said he spoke with the company's president Thursday night about its commitment to the Valley after CHS made the apparent winning bid for Forum's assets.
"What they asked for was a fair opportunity to demonstrate that commitment, and I think that is a reasonable request," Williams said.
He said the company is concerned it might not be getting a fair shake from local unions over what leaders claim is CHS's poor record with labor around the country.
An official with the Service Employees International Union said leaders are trying to remain optimistic. Local union organizer Mary Ann Hupp said if CHS doesn't fulfill its commitments, "then obviously we would issue objections at that time."
Besides turning to the bankruptcy court, Hupp said the union could also express its concerns to Attorney General Richard Cordray, whose staff must also approve the sale.
Cordray said while the company's plans for employment will be considered, it won't be the sole focus.
Cordray said, "the lodestar for us is what is the charitable mission for Forum Health? How do these transactions fit within and further than charitable mission?"
At this point, Cordray said his staff has still not received any information from Community Health about its plans. The process of reviewing the CHS proposal is already running three days behind, from when the company submitted its initial bid earlier this week, he said.
CHS spokeswoman Tomi Galin said discussions with the union groups at Forum are "on-going" and "continuing," hoping to ultimately reach mutually acceptable contracts. The company wants to build "strong relationships," she said, especially with Forum's employees and physicians, as well as local elected leaders.
