Mount Nittany healthcare workers to strike Monday
Healthcare employees union authorizes action to begin Monday
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Negotiations between Mount Nittany Medical Center and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania ended in a stalemate Tuesday evening, and as a result, a previously announced five-day strike will begin on Monday, July 27.
According to a news release from Mount Nittany officials, in an effort to reach an agreement and avoid a strike, the medical center presented a revised proposal that included:
-- A one-year contract extension.
-- A 3% across-the-board wage increase for all bargaining unit employees.
-- A $1,000 ratification bonus for every bargaining unit employee.
-- Wage scale upgrades for 18 job classifications.
-- Continued investments in workplace safety.
The union did not accept the revised proposal, did not provide a counter proposal and ended the bargaining session without further discussion, according to Jessica Kinney, marketing and communications manager for Mount Nittany.
According to a statement from Alicia Sowash, nutrition and culinary services worker, Mount Nittany "won't invest in wages that keep up with inflation." Sowash said Mount Nittany made $183 million in profits, is purchasing new buildings and recently constructed a multimillion dollar tower.
"They keep calling us back to negotiations when we feel like they're not serious about an agreement that recruits and retains experienced workers," Sowash said in a statement.
Sowash also accused Mount Nittany Medical Center management of using intimidation and coercion tactics on workers for taking collective action.
Sowash said the negotiations were disappointing.
"We had emailed the Board of Trustees (Tuesday), including Kathleen Rhine, to urge Rhine to attend negotiations with the additional authority needed to help bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion and avoid a strike. There is no substitute for direct conversations when the future of our hospital, our workforce and our community's care are at stake," Sowash said in the statement.
Mount Nittany officials said they were "disappointed that an agreement was not reached, we remain committed to bargaining in good faith and remain prepared to return to the negotiating table at any time."
The medical center has plans in place to ensure patients continue to receive care with as little disruption as possible, officials said.
The hospital, Emergency Department, physician practices and outpatient clinics will continue to operate as normal, and patients should keep their scheduled appointments unless they are contacted directly by Mount Nittany Health, the news release stated.