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Pay for Pishkur produces protests
By Don Shilling
Objections are expected to be filed in court over his proposed pay.
YOUNGSTOWN — Forum Health will be in bankruptcy court Tuesday for permission to keep using its cash on hand, but union officials hope to prevent that money from being paid to a former chief executive.
Officials from two unions say they expect objections to be filed in opposition to Walter “Buzz” Pishkur being paid up to $9,000 a week as a consultant.
Lawyers from the American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees are researching how the union can try to stop the pay proposal for Pishkur, said Tom Connelly, president of Local 2026, which represents 400 nurses at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
A coalition of groups may join together to fight the plan, he added.
Rob Johnson, hospital division director for the Service Employees International Union, said he couldn’t comment on that union’s legal plans but he said he expected objections to be filed by some parties in the case. The union represents 1,100 technical and professional workers at TMH and Northside Medical Center.
Union leaders are upset because Forum has demanded contract concessions in recent years.
The hearing before Judge Kay Woods in U.S. Bankruptcy Court is crucial for Forum, which has said it will be forced to shut down its operations unless it can continue to use the cash that is generated by its health-care operations. Forum filed for bankruptcy protection in March.
On Sept. 22, Judge Woods gave approval for Forum to continue to spend its cash on hand, pending the Tuesday hearing.
Also last month, Forum and its lenders agreed to work on a joint reorganization plan for the company after Pishkur agreed to step down as CEO. The lenders wanted someone with more health-care experience to run the system.
Connelly said union officials remain in the dark about progress on the reorganization plan, but they believe there are organizations interested in buying all or part of Forum, which also includes Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland.
Connelly said he had a brief meeting in a hallway Thursday with Charles Neumann, whom Forum has proposed to replace Pishkur as interim CEO. He most recently had the same position at a medical center in Savannah, Ga.
Neumann told Connelly the two would have more detailed discussions if the judge approves his appointment.
Connelly and Johnson from the SEIU declined to comment on the pay package for Neumann, who works for a Baltimore consulting firm. FTI Consulting would be paid $75,000 a month.
Connelly noted, however, that adding Pishkur’s proposed pay of $9,000 a week to FTI’s compensation would mean that Forum is paying more than $100,000 a month on consulting services.
“It’s just ridiculous,” he said.
Johnson said he hopes employees and others in the community will find a way to express their concerns about Pishkur’s pay to the Forum board of directors. Forum is proposing to pay Pishkur until May 31.
shilling@vindy.com
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Comments
Does anyone know what is realy going on? Its time the Forum Board and Lenders gives us some answers and let the crucufication of this guy end. If you recall thousands/millions have been paid to past CEO's in severance packages and wages for the real scams of the century. Does anyone know the names of the Board members and Lenders or the businesses they run. I think its time we quit patronizing their businesses and run them out of town.
How could anyone in Administration at Forum ask 1 employee to take a concession in light of the incredible mismanagement by the Forum Board of Directors? You don't hear one word from One Board Member because their fellow Forum Board Member Mr. Pishkur made a Fool out of All of them..and they know it! This Ship of Fools is sinking. We can only pray that Judge Woods has enough common sense to stop this Nonsense..NOW!
Notice the changes in the look of Forum Health Facilities. It is the look of well groomed, maintained and a clean crisp look inside and out. I believe that at sometime during this past year EVERYONE regained a sense of pride in the organization.
"One man's vision became a Community's vision."
e the changes in the look of Forum Health Facilities. It is the look of well groomed, maintained and a clean crisp look inside and out. I believe that at sometime during this past year EVERYONE regained a sense of pride in the organization.
"One man's vision became a Community's vision."
aspin444....Sweeney Chevrolet, Diane Sauer Chevrolet and AVI are 3 I'm aware of. I won't deal with them, not that my business will make or break them, but it's a start.
Charles Neumann is costing them $75,000 per month .
I had visited a friend hospitalized in Northside in August. I agree with you Mr Max as the place looked better than I had ever seen in years past. And the staff were exceptionally friendly and caring. Someone is doing something right.