FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2025
Defiance, Ohio – Nurses at ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital, represented by the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) and AFT, are sounding the alarm. With contract negotiations at a standstill, nurses are rejecting the hospital’s proposed cuts to retirement and healthcare coverage, along with subpar wages — calling them not just unfair, but dangerous.
Nurses are clear: These proposals will only deepen the patient care crisis at ProMedica Defiance, further jeopardizing care and pushing more frontline nurses away from the bedside.
“This isn’t just about economics—it’s about safety,” said Nicole Vidak, Co-Chair of the ProMedica Defiance Nurses Local. “When nurses are overworked, underpaid, and unsupported, patient care suffers. These proposals would push experienced nurses out the door and make it even harder to recruit new ones. We’re here to protect our patients and community, but we need the resources and respect to do that.”
Among the most pressing concerns are:
- Unsafe Staffing Levels– Nurses are already stretched too thin. Without competitive wages and fair benefits, staffing will only get worse.
- Retirement Cuts– Gutting retirement security signals a lack of long-term investment in the nursing workforce. Nurses work physically and emotionally demanding jobs. We are not machines, and we deserve the dignity of a secure retirement.
- Threats to Healthcare Access– Slashing healthcare coverage risks forcing nurses to work while sick or delay needed care. Patients deserve nurses who are healthy, supported, and able to bring their best to the bedside.
“Our members are the heart of the hospital,” said Rick Lucas, ONA President and Executive Director. “Undermining nurses’ well-being and professional dignity doesn’t build a stronger hospital — it erodes the foundation of patient care. This work demands support, not sacrifice. If ProMedica is serious about safe care, they need to return to the table with real solutions.”
The union’s contract, which expired earlier this month, has been temporarily extended until May 9. Nurses are united in their demand: a fair contract that ensures safe staffing, protects staff and patients, and supports the high-quality care every patient in Defiance and the surrounding community needs and deserves.
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About ONA
Formed in 1904, the Ohio Nurses Association is a powerful network of nurses and health professionals. Our mission is to unite and empower nurses and health professionals, championing their rights, promoting professional practice, and advocating for quality care for all patients in Ohio, while fostering a strong and cohesive professional union community. To learn more or to become a member of the Ohio Nurses Association, visit www.ohnurses.org.
Contact: Michelle Day
Director of Communications & Technology
mday@ohnurses.org