by Pete Mazzaccaro
Chestnut Hill Hospital workers began a one-day strike this morning in front of the hospital, 8835 Germantown Avenue. Approximately 100 employees were gathered at the hospital …
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by Pete Mazzaccaro
Chestnut Hill Hospital workers began a one-day strike this morning in front of the hospital, 8835 Germantown Avenue. Approximately 100 employees were gathered at the hospital by 9 a.m., waving signs and chanting for better pay.
The workers, who represent nursing assistants, transporters, secretaries and emergency department technicians employed directly by the hospital have been negotiating a contract with the hospital for several months according to a release from the employees’ union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
According to SEIU, Chestnut Hill workers are paid less per hour than their counterparts at other area hospitals.
“We give our all every single day for our patients,” said Angela Ray, a dietary worker at CHH. “We aren’t asking to be rich. We don’t expect to be rich. But we do expect to be able to pay our bills.”
“I work with patients every day, and they are my top priority,” said Gary Canada, a certified nursing assistant at CHH. “If the hospital isn’t offering good and competitive jobs, they can’t bring in and retain a strong workforce. We risk losing experienced, dedicated employees to other hospitals or nursing homes, and that affects patients.”
In a statement, Chestnut Hill Hospital said the strike has not impacted care.
"Of the striking unit employees scheduled to work today, 74% of their shifts have been covered by other SEIU members who have chosen to work," the statement read. "Emergency, inpatient and surgery services are available, and all outpatient and diagnostic procedures are taking place as planned; all public entrances remain open."
The hospital also said it will continue to negotiate with the employees and noted that those negotiations include a federally appointed mediator.
"We remain committed to the collective bargaining process and to maintaining a positive relationship with our employees and their bargaining agents. Negotiations with the SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania are continuing under the auspices of a Federal mediator."
SEIU represented employees led a similar strike by the same group of employees at the hospital in April 2014. That strike helped produce a two-year contract in June that same year.
