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Union leaders, commissioners push for federal review as local hospital operations and staff payments remain in limbo
Summary
Nurses' union leaders and commissioners described a sudden operational and payroll crisis at the local hospital operator during public comment, urged federal review of bankruptcy-related billing practices, and organized rapid-response employment and benefit assistance for affected staff.
Union leaders and county officials used public comment at the March 26 Trumbull County commissioners meeting to describe an ongoing operational and payroll crisis at the local hospital operation governed by a private holding group and subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
Tom Connolly, president of AFSCME Local 2026, said registered nurses and other hospital staff have experienced a de facto lockout, canceled surgeries and interrupted payroll. "We're still owed another week. We're still owed our vacation time, and our health care has been terminated," Connolly said, adding that some pregnant staff were left without employer-sponsored coverage and that employees were told to use COBRA, which many cannot afford.
Commissioners said they met recently with the hospital’s new owner group and are pressing for federal assistance. Commissioners said they had contacted U.S. senators and a congressman to seek involvement from federal authorities, including, at the commissioners' request, possible engagement from the U.S. Attorney General’s office to review bankruptcy treatment of Medicare and Medicaid receipts.
County response and worker assistance John Gargano, director of Trumbull County Job and Family Services, described a rapid-response event organized for affected hospital employees to provide unemployment information, job-search assistance and re-employment services. Gargano said the session would be held at Kent State Trumbull and that Mercy Health, Akron Children’s and Cleveland Clinic had openings that could be shared with displaced employees. Schedule details were posted on the commissioners’ website and job-and-family services materials.
Commissioners described their efforts to avoid a drawn-out civil fight over alleged billing irregularities. One commissioner said criminal investigation avenues could be sought at the federal level to recover funds if the holding group is withholding Medicare or Medicaid payments the hospital earned. Commissioners also said they had been told the hospital operator reported the facility would be profitable if it could collect outstanding payments for services rendered.
Union perspective and staff conditions Connolly told the board that the workforce is "enraged" and "disoriented," with many employees scrambling for other jobs and some lacking health coverage. He urged direct negotiation with clinical staff and said union members would not return under management that excluded staff input. "We want the hospital back. We want our jobs back, and we want the community to be serviced by this hospital just as it has been for the last hundred years," Connolly said.
Commissioner comments and follow-up Commissioners said they were "blindsided" by the timing of the events but pledged continued engagement, including coordinating with state and federal offices. They emphasized they would help employees access benefits and urged community members to assist and stay engaged. The board did not take a formal vote on county funding at the meeting; commissioners said a prior board pledge of $3 million toward a separate purchase effort had not been disbursed to the hospital.
Ending County officials and union leaders agreed to meet and continue outreach to federal and state lawmakers, and county agencies opened rapid-response supports for affected workers beginning the week after the meeting. No new county appropriation or direct financial assistance to the hospital was approved at the meeting.
