Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry

A group of Warren General Hospital employees held informational pickets on Friday.

The Warren General Hospital Professional Employees Association includes nurses, medical technologists, and social workers.

The union is in negotiations with the hospital.

“We are here to fight for our patients and the safe staffing that they need,” maternity nurse Charlene Fohrd, who is co-president of the association, said.

She said the union included more than 120 members before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently under 100.

With fewer members and sicker patients, the association is fighting against cuts to individual benefits, to help the hospital keep the nurses it has and recruit and retain new personnel.

“The proposals were to cut some of our benefits,” Fohrd said. “We’re here today to stand for those benefits. With the recent financial gains of the hospital, we feel we shouldn’t have to accept the cuts.”