Media Advisory For: September 12, 2024, Contact: Tano Toussaint, tano.toussaint@seiuhcpa.org, 215-284-8809
West Penn Nurses Announce 24% Average Raise and Commitment to Address Nurse Burnout in Landmark New Agreement
Pittsburgh, PA – West Penn Hospital (WPH) union nurses held a press conference on Thursday, September 12, to announce the details of a landmark new agreement with Allegheny Health Network (AHN). West Penn nurses approved the new contract by a vote of 90% on Wednesday and say the agreement makes unprecedented progress toward bringing nursing in Pittsburgh in line with other regions with stronger standards.
“I am so proud of what we achieved by standing united in our hospital and across the city.” said Joanne Germanos, labor & delivery nurse at West Penn. “Four years ago, before we formed our union, my pay was capped at less than $40/hr as an experienced nurse, and I saw experienced and knowledgeable nurses leave to pursue better paying jobs for that reason. In this new contract, we’ve won a guarantee that no nurse with 20 years of licensure will make less than $50/hr, and I’m excited to see the impact that has on nurse retention.”
Pennsylvania has the worst nursing shortage in the country, with 20,000 unfilled nursing positions. This contract settlement is the latest in a series of landmark agreements between union members and AHN, initiated by an agreement at Allegheny General Hospital last fall, that set new industry standards for the recruitment and retention of frontline staff to address the nursing shortage.
This new union contract with one of the city’s largest healthcare providers includes an average pay raise of 24% and will guarantee at least $40 per hour for every nurse by the end of the three year contract. Union nurses say that improving minimum pay will boost recruitment efforts, while the guarantee of a minimum $50 per hour for more senior nurses will help retain longtime nurses.
The agreement also includes improved standing standards for every department, health benefits protected from cost increases, and a commitment to expanding steady positions so nurses no longer have to rotate between day and night shift, oftentimes within a single week.
“I came from a non-union UPMC hospital, and it’s hard to overstate the difference I’ve seen working at a facility where nurses actually have a seat at the table.” said Jodi Faltin, post anesthesia care nurse at West Penn. “During this process, we saw just how much power we have when we stand together. This should be a profession where we have time to sleep, recover, and unwind before we come back to deliver another shift of lifesaving care. I’m excited to know that our patients will be taken care of by nurses with a safe staffing ratio and a steady shift.”
Union nurses and management also created a joint committee to strengthen workplace safety, amidst a national increase in violence against healthcare workers.
At the Thursday press conference, nurses were joined by County Executive Sara Innamorato and Mayor Ed Gainey, who celebrated what nurses achieved in the new agreement and called for other hospitals and health systems to come to the table with healthcare workers to address the staffing crisis.
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SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is the state’s largest and fastest-growing union of nurses and healthcare workers, uniting tens of thousands of professional and technical employees, direct care workers, and service employees in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home- and community-based services, and state facilities across the Commonwealth. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania members are committed to improving the lives of health care workers and ensuring quality care and healthy communities for all Pennsylvanians.