When Mercy Scranton hospital was sold two years ago, it went from being a faith-based institution to a for-profit company, raising concerns about the hospital’s future. But we – the nurses and healthcare professionals at Regional Hospital of Scranton – are fighting for the future of our hospital and our community. We know our patients want a well-staffed hospital with skilled healthcare workers who are committed to this community, and we will hold RHS accountable to providing good quality jobs that Northeast Pennsylvania needs to build a strong middle class.
We are committed to achieving an agreement that ensures:
- Maintaining Good Staffing Levels At all Times: To ensure patients receive the best, highest quality care. We want to make sure call bells are answered quickly, prevent long waits for tests and lab results, and make sure you always receive the time and attention you deserve. Delays in these areas could lead to delays in care.
- No Outsourcing: Outsourcing means our colleagues who have worked at RHS for years and are qualified to do the work will lose jobs that are then given to contractors offering the lowest bids. We believe our workers and community deserve better. Your healthcare services should not be farmed out to the lowest bidder.
- Good middle-class jobs: Income inequality and the erosion of the middle class are serious issues in our community and across our country. The Scranton region needs good family-sustaining jobs that protect and strengthen our middle class.
We are not just workers at Regional Hospital of Scranton, this is our hospital too. We want to ensure it continues to provide the quality care we trust for our families, friends, and neighbors.
We have been working with RHS executives since December to achieve an agreement that will uphold these standards of high quality care, but we don’t believe they are bargaining in good faith. We do not want to strike, but are committed to standing up our patients and improving jobs at our hospital for our community.