More than 800 registered nurses at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Altoona are speaking out against the hospital’s plans to spend millions of dollars on temporary workers to replace them for a one-day unfair labor practices strike planned for Feb. 11. The nurses say that money would be better spent on improving the quality of patient care and jobs at UPMC Altoona.
“UPMC is willing to pay $50 an hour — $20 more than they currently pay us — plus airfare, lodging and meals for these [temporary] nurses,” said Paula Stellabotte, an RN and chapter president at UPMC Altoona, in a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 6.
The nurses, all members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, had been in contract negotiations with UPMC Altoona and were advocating for improvements in care for patients and fighting against management’s attempts to cut current benefits, but UPMC refused to negotiate, walking away from the table on Feb. 1. The nurses decided to strike as a last resort in response to unfair labor practices.
“This is especially frustrating since we were willing to keep negotiating to find a resolution and avoid a one-day strike,” Stellabotte said. “Our patients and our community deserve better.”
Media outlets have already reported on UPMC’s hiring of Huffmaster, an out-of-state strike-busting company, to find the temporary staffing and the hospital’s plan to hire additional security and police. The price tag is expected to be in the millions and nurses at UPMC point out that the hospital could hire scores of additional full-time nurses and improve patient care for what it plans to spend on this short-term solution.
“The fact that UPMC would spend millions on out-of-state temporary staff who have no commitment to our community, rather than investing in quality care and quality jobs for our area is outrageous” said Stellabotte. “This is especially frustrating since we were willing to keep negotiating to find a resolution and avoid a one-day strike. By walking away, UPMC shows where its priorities are. Our patients and our community deserve better.”
Healthcare professionals from across Pennsylvania are expected to offer their support to the striking nurses until the hospital returns to the bargaining table. The Altoona nurses say they look forward to returning to their patients, but will stand strong for what they know to be a worthwhile fight.
“We are willing to compromise on some things, but never patient care,” said Jamie Wiegand, an ER nurse at Altoona. “We are deeply concerned to learn that UPMC Altoona would be willing to utilize the services of an outside agency whose replacement nurses are not familiar with our hospital’s policies or procedures. As nurses, our patients are our top priority. We need UPMC to share that commitment by investing in frontline caregivers and working with us to find a solution at the bargaining table.”