Mount Nittany Medical Center’s unionized workers on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if necessary as negotiations with hospital management for a new contract continue.
According to a release from SEIU Healthcare, the union that represents about 950 Mount Nittany workers, 99% of members voted in favor of giving their negotiating committee the ability to issue a strike notice “if a contract labor agreement that invests fairly in all workers is not reached.” Negotiations have been ongoing since April 29, and the previous three-year contract expired on Wednesday.
The union described a potential strike as a “last resort,” and said members hope to strike an acceptable deal when they return to the negotiating table on Monday.
Union members said in April that they are seeking wages that can retain and recruit staff across all departments amid inflation and rising costs of living in Centre County, and cited studies that show adequate staffing is critical to health care workplace safety.
The union says Mount Nittany has the resources to invest in staff retention and recruitment, pointing to its healthy balance sheet and significant capital projects, like the new $350 million patient tower under construction at the hospital, the $90 million Toftrees outpatient center and other recent projects and acquisitions.
A Mount Nittany spokesperson said this week that the hospital has presented a proposal that includes a 4% wage increase for registered nurses in the first year, new new pay differentials for precepting and weekend shifts and “a 2% across-the-board wage increase for all union members, as well as any seniority-based wage increases employees are eligible to receive under the current contract.” The proposal also would move 12 positions into higher pay grades, resulting in wage increases ranging from 2% to 12% in the first year.
“All of us as a team make award-winning care possible, and this vote makes it pretty clear that 2% wage increases don’t cut it,” Jadyn Maske, an environmental services aide and member of the union’s negotiating committee, said in a statement on Friday. “It was incredible to see the room packed, standing room only, of coworkers who want to send a strong message that all employees have to move forward for quality care. We’re hopeful that next week we can get to a fair contract agreement that invests in safety, staffing, and all of us. We know Mount Nittany has the resources to do so.”
Health care unions are required to give 10 days notice for a labor strike.
The Mount Nittany spokesperson said that while management recognizes strike authorizations “as a standard part of the collective bargaining process,” they are hopeful a “mutually beneficial agreement” can be reached.
“Our focus remains on finding common ground through productive negotiations,” the spokesperson said.
If a strike does occur, the hospital has plans in place to “continue providing safe, high-quality care,” according to Mount Nittany
“Our highest priority remains the patients and communities who rely on us every day, and we are committed to minimizing any disruption while continuing to work toward an agreement that supports our employees and the long-term future of our independent health system,” the spokesperson said.
The union represents most employees from each department at the hospital, such as registered nurses, emergency department technicians, lab technicians, skilled maintenance, pharmacists, certified nurse aides, environmental services aides, radiology technologists, dietary aides and more.
