YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Former Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association President Laurie Hornberger said a new exhibit chronicling Ohio’s first nurses’ union brings back a multitude of memories.
She said in a union, workers were taught they were allowed to have a voice.
“Meaning, you can speak out in regards to working conditions that affect patient outcomes. Nurses do not have that at will all the hospitals they work for, they would have a fear of losing their job,” said Hornberger.
The YGDNA is just the second nurses union in the country and was formed over a wage dispute in the 60s . . . it lasted for decades until Northside Hospital’s closure in 2018.
Hornberger said the pandemic is once again bringing to light all the challenges in the healthcare industry.
“Mandatory overtime, stretch assignments, flex assignments, working with less constantly. So nurses were fighting for that before the pandemic and now it has just exasperated it,” said Hornberger.
At one time, the union served nurses at Northside, Southside, Tod Babies and Children’s Hospital, and Beeghly Medical Park.
Jeannie Mulichak has worked for nearly 40 years as a nurse in Youngstown, many of those years were spent at Northside.
She said nursing has never been her job, but instead her ministry; and she applauds the men and women who have remained a united force during the pandemic.
“What the nurses have been through in the last 18 months, they’re so brave. I can’t even talk about it, their bravery,” said Mulichak.
Mulichak and Hornberger said when residents of Mahoning Valley view this exhibit they want them to know they’ll always continue the fight for the best interest of their patients.
“It displays the passion, the fight, the caring, the strength, the legacy. How they took care of the patients and were able to fight for better care,” said Hornberger.
The Youngstown General Duty Nurses Association has donated $50,000 in union dues to the Historical Center of Industry to preserve their nurse labor history.
The exhibit is located at 151 W. Wood St. in downtown Youngstown and is expected to be on display until next year.
