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From staff reports
STATE COLLEGE -- Mount Nittany Medical Center and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania failed to reach a new contract agreement during renewed negotiations Tuesday, leaving a previously announced five-day strike scheduled to begin Monday.
The two sides returned to the bargaining table in an effort to reach an agreement, but both said the latest round of negotiations ended without a contract.
According to Mount Nittany, the hospital presented a revised proposal that included a one-year contract extension, a 3% across-the-board wage increase for bargaining unit employees, a $1,000 ratification bonus for each bargaining unit employee, wage scale upgrades for 18 job classifications and continued investments in workplace safety.
The hospital said the union did not accept the revised proposal, did not provide a counterproposal and ended the bargaining session without further discussion.
“While we are disappointed that an agreement was not reached, we remain committed to bargaining in good faith and remain prepared to return to the negotiating table at any time,” the hospital said in a statement.
The union, however, said management’s latest proposal did not significantly change its position on wages.
“We are extremely disappointed that after calling us back to the bargaining table, Mount Nittany management did not significantly change their position on fair wage increases,” said Alicia Sowash, a nutrition and culinary services worker and member of the union bargaining committee.
The union criticized the proposed one-year agreement and $1,000 bonus, saying the offer moved negotiations “backward, not forward” and did not keep wages in line with inflation.
Union leaders also said they urged Mount Nittany Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Rhine to attend the negotiations with additional decision-making authority, arguing her presence could have helped bring the talks to a successful conclusion and avoid a strike.
In its statement, the union also alleged hospital management has used intimidation and coercion tactics against employees participating in collective action, some of which it believes are illegal. The hospital did not address those allegations in its statement.
Despite the disagreement, both sides indicated they remain willing to continue negotiations.
The hospital said it has comprehensive contingency plans in place and expects the hospital, emergency department, physician practices and outpatient clinics to continue operating normally during the strike. Patients are advised to keep scheduled appointments unless they are contacted directly by Mount Nittany Health.
The five-day strike remains scheduled to begin Monday.