Hundreds of nurses and medical staff at Insight-operated hospitals are without active jobs this week. As more than 600 employees are furloughed, there are many unanswered questions and missing paychecks.

That's why unions are scrambling to find answers and are turning to political leaders for guidance. 

"We sit here waiting for some of our political leaders to get involved in this," explained Tom Connelly, President of AFSCME Local 2026. "They've [Insight] decimated this community and we havent heard from Governor DeWine. We havent heard from our state representatives. We heard sparingly from the county commissioners. People should be outraged about this. They should be lined up outside the hospital right now. If our society had another epidemic, we would be in such trouble here."

Connelly emphasized wait times at surrounding hospitals will drastically worsen due to Insight's closures. 

21 News first reported on Thursday, March 27 that Insight employees have not received their pay for the last two weeks' worth of work. This includes employees at Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull, Rehabilitation Hospital Hillside, and outpatient centers in Cortland and Austintown. 

On Friday, Insight said payroll was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. The only communication Insight employees received since was an email, stating payroll managers have no updates and are waiting for more information from Insight leadership.

After WARN notices were issued Friday unveiling the furloughs, unions want to know when staff will get their paychecks and if their health insurance can somehow be saved. Employees tell 21 News they have yet to get the proper paperwork needed to file for unemployment assistance.

"We've retained special attorneys because this is all tied up in the Steward bankruptcy," Connelly explained. "I don't know where our strategy is going to go but I do know that there are legal options available to us."

AFSCME local leaders met Monday evening to discuss what legal options to take to ensure employees are paid for hours worked and health insurance is upheld. 

"I live alone I know that there are probably other people in my situation," explained Cierra Mosholder, Social Worker with Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull. "There's probably also other people with children as well. They may have the only income and not having that money, not knowing when it's going to come, having bills, things like that, it's very frustrating."

There is no timeline for when paychecks could be available for the hundreds of employees impacted.