Forum's CEO Walter Pishkur wanted to have new contracts with all of the unions at Forum Health completed by Friday though it does not appear that is going to happen. We are being told "significant progress" is being made with one of the unions.
Forum was in negotiation with one union today and officials remain optimistic something can be worked out.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which represents workers at Trumbull and Hillside Hospitals met with Forum officials for several hours Friday and the two have exchanged proposals.
Pishkur has said if he can't get the new contracts with the unions, he will file a motion in bankruptcy court asking to have the contracts tossed out.
"We will look at the situation again next week," Pishkur said.
However, one union, the SEIU says they do not believe they will be able to work out anything with Forum this weekend because they do not have any meetings set until the end of the month.
Pishkur says that even if Forum does file a motion in bankruptcy court to have the union contracts thrown out, negotiations with the unions would continue in hopes both sides would reach an agreement without the court's help.
"We will continue to have discussions with unions over the weekend, with some other unions," Pishkur said.
