TOLEDO, Ohio — After nurses voted to reject the latest proposed contract by Mercy Health Tuesday night, the UAW released a statement saying it has requested a sit down with hospital executives to come to an agreement that members will support.
The statement said that although the union had recommended members to ratify the tentative agreement, "the UAW is a democratic union, and it is the members who ultimately decide whether to ratify a CBA."
The union also criticized a press release that came from Mercy Health Wednesday evening and said, "Patients and the community would be better served by fewer Mercy press releases and more bargaining. We believe that with further bargaining we can achieve a collective bargaining agreement that the democratic union voice will support."
In its statement, Mercy Health said they are still disappointed in the results of the vote and blamed those on the UAW "experiencing a lack of unity, including nearly 200 nurses who have resigned from the union. Additionally, the hospital is aware of members' petition to decertify their UAW representation."
Mercy Health also said they "will continue to work under an unconditional offer return to work put forth on June 12, and Mercy Health will continue to honor the terms and conditions of the expired contracts as legally required to do."