Coshocton County Memorial Hospital RNs to Strike Despite Hospital's Claim of Financia...( COSHOCTON Ohio Dec. 7 -- As of D...),Health

COSHOCTON, Ohio, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As of December 7, 2007, Coshocton County Memorial Hospital has maintained its proposals for concessions from its registered nurses for a 3-year contract. As a result, bargaining unit RNs at Coshocton County Memorial Hospital will be on strike and maintain a picket line starting at 7:00 a.m. on December 9, 2007.

RNs are professionals with highly developed skills and extensive education. Each and every day they not only prevent illness and injury and alleviate the suffering of their patients; they also save lives. According to the Inhouse Assist 2006 Nurses Salary Survey, the national average salary for an RN is $30.76/hr. RNs in Columbus, Ohio, which ranks fifth in the nation for RN salaries, average $33.48/hr. Under their current contract, registered nurses at CCMH start at $21.32/hr and top out at $28.32/hr only after 15 years of service. To remain competitive, hospitals must provide salaries and benefits commensurate with the rest of the health care industry. CCMH ONA remains committed to retaining and attracting qualified and dedicated RN staff to Coshocton. In order to do this the Hospital must maintain fair wages, benefits and work environment.

An analysis of the Hospital's financial situation was conducted by an independent CPA and concluded that while the Hospital does have cash flow problems, its revenues and assets have in fact increased each year for the past three years. CCMH ONA therefore concludes that any cash flow problems could be a result of acquisition of long-term assets rather than losses in other areas of operation, and are thereby temporary in nature.

In order to provide time for the Hospital to recover from any cash flow problems, CCMH ONA has proposed current contract language for overtime and pension (in which nurses receive a 7% employer contribution for the first $13,200 of the nurse's pay and 9.2% employer contribution for the nurse's pay over and above $
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