Sherrod Brown visits Mercy Health picket line as strike wears on

TOLEDO -- The picket line at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center got a boost on Friday from politicians as the strike ended its first week without a resolution reached by the hospital and its unionized staffers.

For labor-friendly Democrats, there was no more politically advantageous place to be Friday than in one of the state’s union strongholds.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) showed up to speak with striking employees who are among the 1,900 nurses, lab technicians, and hospital support staff protesting out-of-pocket health-care costs and on-call hours.

“I think I’m a reasonable voice. My whole theme of the ‘dignity of work’ means that I’m always on the side of workers, but I also want this hospital to run well and take care of people well. I’m hopeful that any credibility I bring to this can help,” Mr. Brown said.

Read more: https://www.toledoblade.com/news/medical/2019/05/10/sherrod-brown-mercy-health-st-vincent-hospital-workers-strike/stories/20190510168