The strikers, members of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2330, have been organizing 24-hour picket lines since August 18 when they walked out over issues of health-care insurance, mandatory overtime, and wage increases. Out on strike are licensed practical nurses; radiology, physical therapy, respiratory, dietary, and lab technicians; food service, housekeeping, and maintenance workers; and medical secretaries.

Strikers report a major reason for their strike is that the company's proposed raise will be erased by its plan to increase the cost of health insurance. Prescription co-pay, for example, would go from $5 to $10–$35 with a proposed wage increase of only 35 cents an hour the first year and 40 cents the second year of the contract.

"Three years ago, a family [health insurance] plan was costing $17 per pay period," said Janet Planutis, president of the union local. "Currently, it is costing $76 a [bimonthly] pay period." Striker and local officer Stan Piaskowski said the hospital told them that "the pie" that benefits can be taken from is only so big. "Is that the 1970s pie, the 1990s pie, or exactly which of their 'pies' is this?" he asked.

Pickets, most of whom preferred not to have their names published at this time, said they have been overwhelmed with support from other unions, people in the community, and registered nurses and doctors from the hospital--some of whom wear green ribbons at work in solidarity with the strike. The contract of the Hazleton General registered nurses expires September 30.

"Donations have included every kind of food and the Verizon workers came by with a wad of cash," reported one striker. "Even the delivery guys bring us pizza and ice cream." A constant stream of honking cars on a main street in town testifies to the support the hospital workers have won.

This past week employees of the fish hatchery and the state transportation department who are members of AFSCME took vacation time to join the picket line. Workers from Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the Pennsylvania State Education Association have also picketed. Striker Kathleen Yeager said that the emergency personnel from the East End Fire Department are also regular visitors, and that the hospital doctors bring food by as well.

"I know what they're fighting for," said Mark, a worker picketing at the back gate of the hospital. He was on strike as a member of the Steelworkers union in the Hazleton area, which waged a successful two-year battle in 1994 against the company General Foam, which sought to impose a 12-hour day on its workforce.

For many of the hospital workers this is their first picket line, and it is the first strike at the hospital since state workers walked out in Pennsylvania in 1975. Some of the part-time workers have come to help out, and mentioned that they have no health insurance whatsoever. "It's not true that hospitals have better health care for their workers as some people think," said one.

Rose Marie Devaney, who has worked in housekeeping for 15 years, also pointed out that the working conditions are difficult even without the overtime. "I have to clean 20 rooms every shift. I want to do the best job I can, but it is very hard with that many rooms."

Point-man for the hospital administration, Bernard Rudegeair, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, wrote a letter filled with company distortions that was published in the Hazleton Standard-Speaker. In response, the strikers display the letter on a sign saying, "Don't Believe the Lies!"

The hospital administration has mailed strikers another letter stating that their health insurance will be terminated at the end of August unless they pay as much as $688 per month for a family plan. The letter claimed the strikers will not be eligible for unemployment insurance and that if someone crosses the picket line they will not be fired.

The letter reads, in part, "An employee who decides to work during a strike can avoid being fined or otherwise disciplined by the union simply by resigning his or her union membership...by mailing to the local union a written letter of resignation. The resignation is effective at 12:01 A.M. the day after the letter is postmarked."

Striking hospital workers are inviting other unionists to a Labor Day "Letter Burning" of what some call "the resignation letter." So far only one striker has crossed the line.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home