FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2026
(Cleveland, OH)—Yesterday, the Metro Behavioral Health Nurses Union, represented by the Ohio Nurses Association and AFT, ratified their first-ever contract with MetroHealth Behavioral Health Hospital, located in Cleveland Heights.
The contract includes strong workplace safety protections; limits on health insurance cost increases; wage increases that strengthen the hospital’s ability to recruit and retain experienced behavioral health RNs; and greater nurse control over scheduling, leave usage, and access to additional hours. By improving workplace safety, supporting nurse retention, and ensuring nurses have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting staffing, patient safety, and standards of practice, the agreement helps ensure patients receive care from experienced nurses in a stable, safe, and supportive environment.
“It has been nearly three years since we first started working to form a union here at Metro, and it feels great to bring our first contract negotiation to a successful conclusion,” said Patty Kane, a registered nurse at Metro and President of the Metro Behavioral Health Nurses Union. “During the negotiation, we focused on the issues our nurses identified as priorities: workplace safety, patient care, and working conditions that will help us retain and recruit qualified nurses. The terms of this first contract will help improve working conditions for the incredibly talented nurses at Metro Behavioral Health Hospital and ensure that our patients continue to receive the high-quality, highly skilled, compassionate care they need and deserve.”
“The nurses of the Metro Behavioral Health Nurses Union came together with a clear vision for their workplace and their patients, and this agreement reflects that commitment,” said ONA President Rick Lucas. “Throughout negotiations, they remained focused on securing the protections, resources, and respect needed to attract and retain nurses and strengthen patient care. When nurses have safe working conditions, fair treatment, and a voice in their workplace, they can focus on what matters most: providing the highest quality care to their patients.”
The Ohio Nurses Association is Ohio’s professional union for nurses and health professionals, dedicated to uniting and empowering nurses and healthcare workers, championing their rights, promoting professional practice, and advocating for quality care for all patients in Ohio.
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