Amid negotiations surrounding a proposed contract that could outsource jobs, about 300 Regional Hospital of Scranton health care workers picketed the block in front of the hospital Tuesday afternoon, chanting and carrying signs calling for quality care for patients and a better rotation schedule.
The union and the hospital are negotiating a contract that would outsource jobs in every hospital department, which the workers claim would mean less-competitive wages.
The contract negotiations have been ongoing since December, but no agreement was reached by the Feb. 28 deadline. Workers are still covered under the old contract.
Michele Uhranowsky, R.N., president of the Regional Hospital of Scranton chapter of SEIU Healthcare PA, said the proposed contract would compromise the quality of health care that patients receive.
"We want our patients to have quality health care. It's important to us," she said.
Registered medical technician Cathy Williams said often the ratio of nurses to patients is too low and that the hospital has lost about 100 employees it has yet to replace, causing the quality of care to suffer.
Also on the table in the proposed contract would be a shift rotation with seven days' notice, which Ms. Williams said would affect workers who have to schedule around second jobs and families.
Hospital spokesman Jim McGuire did not comment on negotiations in an email statement Tuesday but said the picket has not affected hospital operations. All inpatient, outpatient and emergency services were available, and all surgeries and diagnostic procedures were continuing, he said.
Another negotiating session is scheduled for Thursday, Ms. Uhranowsky said.
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