Lawmakers are supporting Trumbull Memorial Hospital employees as they continue contract negotiations. Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, State Representative Bob Hagan of Youngstown and others held a press conference Monday at the hospital in Warren to ask executives to reach an agreement.

The hospital’s 400 employees turned down the company’s most recent contract offer, which would have allowed workers to be furloughed—or sent home from work without pay—up to 36 times per year.

Anthony Caldwell is a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union, which represents the hospital workers. Caldwell says the proposed furloughing policy would hurt both employees and patients.