By: Eddie Trizzino, Eagle Community Editor
The Butler Technical Workers will have a news conference at noon Monday, May 11, after negotiations with Butler Memorial Hospital administrators stalled following the union’s announcement of a five-day strike.
The conference will take place in the Butler Room at Ramada by Wyndham Butler, 139 Pittsburgh Road, Butler Township.
Last May, 235 hospital technical workers, including surgical techs, respiratory therapists, radiology techs, LPNs and other job classifications, voted to unionize. They join the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals which has long represented their colleagues, the nurses at Butler Memorial, said a news release from the tech workers.
On April 23, nine months after beginning negotiations for their first union contract the techs voted to authorize a strike. The union alleges poor working conditions, poor wages, a lack of fair benefits and other issues as reasons behind the strike.
A statement from Independence Health said Butler Memorial Hospital has received a 10‑day notice from the union indicating its intent to initiate a strike on May 19 if negotiations do not result in an agreement.
As a result of the strike notice, the bargaining session scheduled for Monday has been canceled while contingency staffing plans are put in place to ensure continuity of care should a strike occur.
“While we respect the union’s right to provide notice, 10 days neither reflects the significance and complexity of the issues being negotiated nor offers a meaningful path toward resolution,” the news release said.
