Mount Nittany Medical Center Workers Begin Strike

Mount Nittany Medical Center’s unionized employees are officially on strike for the first time since 2004.

The hospital’s approximately 950 workers represented by SEIU Healthcare PA began a planned five-day strike at 7 a.m. Monday as negotiations with management for a new contract remain deadlocked.

Many picketed along East Park Avenue and Hospital Drive, carrying signs calling on executives to offer a contract with wage increases that meet inflation and the rising cost of living in Centre County. Picketing will begin at 7 a.m. each day, and the strike is scheduled to conclude at 7 a.m. on Saturday.

Workers called the strike a “last resort.” They are seeking across-the-board increases for all bargaining unit employees — which include nurses, emergency department technicians, lab technicians, skilled maintenance, phlebotomists, certified nurse aides, environmental services aides, radiology technologists, nutrition workers and more — saying each are critical to quality care.

“Mount Nittany has really left us with no choice but to strike,” Fawn Guignet, a registered nurse in the emergency department, said in a statement. “Quality patient care depends on dedicated workers from wall to wall – staff who disinfect rooms, fix broken equipment, prepare meals, take accurate lab tests and scans for diagnosis, transport patients, begin chest compressions and more. But instead of valuing the people who make care possible, Mount Nittany executives are offering increases that don’t keep up with rising costs or inflation.”

Negotiations began on April 29 and the previous three-year contract expired on June 30. Union members on July 8 voted in favor of issuing notice of a five-day strike to begin Monday if a new agreement could not be reached.

Mount Nittany’s most recent proposal on July 21, which a hospital spokesperson said was aimed at avoiding a strike, included a one-year contract extension with 3% across-the-board wage increase for all of its approximately 950 workers represented by SEIU Healthcare PA, as well as a $1,000 ratification bonus for every employee in the bargaining unit, wage scale upgrades for 18 job classifications and new investments in workplace safety.

Management’s offer prior to that was a three-year deal with 3% raises in the first year followed by 2% in the following two years, along with an additional 2% for registered nurses pay grade increases for 19 positions, bumps for weekend and preceptor differentials and a series of new workplace safety measures.

“Our goal remains to reach a fair agreement that recognizes our employees’ contributions while ensuring Mount Nittany Health remains a strong, independent health system able to continue serving our community,” a hospital spokesperson said.

Union members have also said it was “disrespectful” that Mount Nittany Health CEO Kathleen Rhine has not appeared at negotiations, despite requests for her to attend.

“We dedicate our lives to serving this community, but now it’s hard to afford living here,” Guignet said. “We’re calling on Mount Nittany executives to show that you care about the future of our patients, our community, and the workers who care for them day in and day out.”

Mount Nittany has “comprehensive plans in place to ensure patients continue to receive safe, high-quality care with as little disruption as possible,” according to the hospital.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Aug. 3.

During the strike, Mount Nittany has “comprehensive plans in place to ensure patients continue to receive safe, high-quality care with as little disruption as possible,” according to the hospital.

The medical center, emergency department, physician offices and outpatient practices remain open and patients should keep scheduled appointments unless contacted otherwise. 

Some lab and imaging locations have modified hours or are closed during the strike.

While picketing is taking place each day just off hospital property, the union and supporters have several other community events planned.

Dozens of employees and their families gathered at the Allen Street Gates in State College on Tuesday afternoon for a lemonade stand with a message of “Mount Nittany, Stop Squeezing Healthcare Workers.”

“The lemonade stand today is to get out in the community, do something nice for the community, something nice for the kids, and you know, bring awareness to the show,” Kelsye Stott-Fleissner, a registered respiratory therapist at Mount Nittany, who was at the lemonade stand with her daughter Ivy. “… Obviously we’re striking at the hospital, but you know we’ve done a lot in terms of talking to the community.and we just wanted to get out here, be seen and let them know that we are so appreciative of everything they are doing for us.”

Stott-Fleissner added that it was important to her and other workers to have their families participating.

“I made it at a point to bring my daughter because I want her to see what it looks like to stand up for your rights and what you need,” she said. “So it’s a good life lesson for these kids that are here, because you should stand up and take a stand for what what you need and you know what your rights are.”