FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
CONTACT: Megan Gorman / [email protected] / (215) 341-817-5781
2.5 YEARS AFTER THE MERGER WITH EXCELA HEALTH, 235 BUTLER MEMORIAL TECHS VOTE “YES” TO UNIONIZE
“I’M SO PROUD OF ALL OF US FOR STANDING TOGETHER FOR OURSELVES, FOR PATIENT CARE IN BUTLER, AND FOR OUR HOSPITAL!”
BUTLER, PA: Today, 235 Butler Memorial Hospital techs – including surgical techs, respiratory therapists, radiology techs, and LPNs, among other job classifications – voted overwhelmingly to unionize with PASNAP, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which has long represented their colleagues, the nurses at Butler Memorial.
The vote took place both in person and via mail. The count was conducted this afternoon and completed at 4:45 PM. An overwhelming percentage of Butler techs voted in favor of unionizing with PASNAP.
“Since COVID, healthcare workers have really suffered,” said Maura Williams, a surgical tech at Butler. “At our hospital, our wages have been stagnant, our benefits have been taken away from us, and many, many of our colleagues have left. We want to keep our dedicated and skilled staff here and make Butler Memorial a great place to work again. Forming a Union allows us to have a seat at the table so we can help advocate for and implement much-needed changes. We will benefit, of course – but so will our patients and so will the hospital!”
“We just want to be heard,” said Respiratory Therapist Monica Johnson, echoing her colleague’s sentiments. “I’m so proud of all of us for standing together for ourselves, for patient care in Butler, and for our hospital!”
Fed up with their deteriorating working conditions in the two and a half years since the hospital merged with Excela Health on January 1, 2023, the Butler techs voted to join their now Union siblings, the Butler RNs.
On May 12th, less than a week after authorizing a strike, almost 500 Butler Memorial RNs ratified a new three-year Union contract. Nurse safety, security, and retention were the nurses’ primary focus throughout negotiations – goals that largely mirror those of the techs.
“I’m so happy for the members of our Butler Tech group who have decided to show up and speak out about wanting a voice in their workplace – they now have the opportunity to negotiate a fair and equitable contract!” said Butler ICU Nurse Tammy May, RN, president of Pennsylvania Independent Nurses at Butler Memorial, the PASNAP local there. “Our Butler PASNAP RNs are looking forward to collaborating with our newest Union brothers and sisters!”
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The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) represents more than 11,000 frontline nurses and allied professionals across Pennsylvania and was founded 25 years ago on the belief that patients do better when critical care staff have a voice to advocate for their patients and themselves.
