UPMC Hospital Washington Hospital voted to allow strike – Uniontown Herald Standard

SEIU health workers at UPMC Hospital Washington voted to allow a strike on Monday.

The 300 employees of the Union Hospital voted 95% in favor of resolving the strike, if necessary.

Two negotiated sessions are planned – one was held on Tuesday and the other is Thursday – and workers say they hope to reach an agreement and avoid strike.

“The last thing we want to do is strike, but UPMC does not keep the promises they made in terms of benefits and salaries and other problems,” said Marisa Petro, who, along with her husband Kevin Petro Service technicians at UPMC Washington. “We remain optimistic and try to give up (upmc) the advantage of doubt and we hope to reach a good and just agreement that moves everyone forward. But it was very discouraging to us. “

The vote on Monday came after the Union said it had not reached an agreement with UPMC before the contract expired on January 31st.

Workers are negotiating with UPMC for better salaries and said in a press release that the recent UPMC offers include promotions that do not keep up with inflation, along with a wide range of deep cuts.

Jobs include surgical technicians, care partners, physical therapy assistants, dietary assistants, hosts, carpenters, licensed maintenance workers, main plumbers and more. Says for some of these jobs start at $ 16 an hour, according to the Union.

The Union said UPMC is committed to investing a minimum of $ 300 million when it merged with Washington’s health system in 2024 and wants UPMC to invest in the hospital and labor.

The Union said the UPMC has proposed a number of cuts, including the elimination of workers’ healthcare restrictions and an increase in pocket costs for one of their health insurance plans; Elimination of differential pay over the weekend; termination of extraordinary payment for shifts for eight hours; Increasing health insurance premiums; and eliminating payment workers who reward years of service.

The Union claims that while workers in Washington “compete to connect the edges”, the total compensation for the first five non -clinical UPMC leaders increased by 47% in one year, in the fiscal years from 2022 to 2023.

The strike date has not been determined and the Union said that workers would provide a 10-day UPMC notice before they strike.

The UMPC spokesman in Washington declined to comment on negotiation, but said the hospital “was well prepared to take care of its patients” in the event of a work stop.