Judge won’t dissolve Forum union contracts
YOUNGSTOWN — Two Northside Medical Center unions have agreed that Forum Health can notify the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation that the hospital system intends to transfer its employee pension plan to the auspices of the PBGC.
As a result, bankruptcy Judge Kay Woods today denied a motion by Forum for interim relief from the union contracts, saying there was noting prohibiting Forum from initiating the process.
Also, Judge Woods extended Forum’s exclusivity period to Sept. 15, the date when its reorganization plan must be submitted to the court. During exclusivity, Forum is the only party that can submit a reorganization plan. When exclusivity ends, any interested party can submit a plan.
Also today, Forum health announced the layoff of 50 Northside employees over the next 30 days, and the closing of its behavioral health department.
Comments
Good for you, Judge Woods!!!
This idea that a corporation can simply declare bankruptcy and weasel its way out of its obligations to its workers, has GOT to come to a halt. Why bother having a contract at all - you know, a legally binding document - if Forum had no intention of following it?
The idea that a company can enter into a contract and have the other party work a lifetime to keep their end only to have the company try to walk away and let the taxpayer fulfill their pension and health care obligations is total BS. No pun intended NoBS.
Let anyone enter into a contract with Forum and not hold up their end and and you would find yourself in litigation so fast your head would swim. I'll bet Forum's financial condition doesn't keep their top executives from receiving pay increases and bonuses.
Hmmm... it's OK for Obama in his socialist takeover of the auto companies, but it's not OK for other companies? Ya gotta love them liberals!
I am glad I live in a Right to Work state for one reason, no union!!! I have worked as an RN in a Union shop in Ohio and the only benefits I saw was the protection of the 30/300 the 30 year 300lb nurse who couldn't move from her seat. Now my raise is based on performance and productivity. Hmmmm imagine that, now if the management agreed to the contract they should follow through until the end. However, at the end of the contract remove the organized labor.
Mr./Ms. ProAmerican....your name doesn't hold with your comment.....if you would have any experience with Forum Health, WRCS, YHA, etc. you would have a pretty good idea why they're in the fix they are in. I'm not saying there have not been contracts that have not been good business for the system (which they approved)but the problems were far more in depth over years. This is another company, much like GM, banks, etc. that have not been managed well and had a board that was too busy running their own businesses!