Allegheny Valley Hospital union paves way for strike; AHN confident agreement can be reached

Allegheny Valley Hospital union members have authorized a strike, becoming the second Allegheny Health Network hospital to announce a potential work stoppage in as many weeks.

The union, represented by SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Healthcare PA, voted 99% in favor Friday of authorizing its negotiating committee to send a strike notice, if necessary, union officials said in a statement.

The statement said union members at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison are calling on AHN to improve pay in the region’s hospitals. They also are advocating for retention and recruitment measures, including improved compensation and enhanced staffing and safety measures.

Allegheny Valley Hospital has about 450 members in its union, which include registered nurses, patient care technicians, housekeepers and others, the SEIU said.

“We voted to authorize a strike because we know our community is counting on us to recruit and retain the staff who will be there for them when they come to AVH,” said Samantha Nagy, an employee at the hospital.

Last week, nearly 700 union members at West Penn Hospital, in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood authorized a strike, rejecting AHN’s contract proposals. Negotiations for both hospitals failed to result in agreements, the union announced.

“It’s historic to see two hospitals taking a stand like this at the same time,” Nagy said, “and it shows that hospital workers across the region are serious about making these large health systems take real action to address the staffing crisis.”

Allegheny Health Network spokesman Dan Laurent said negotiations continue with bargaining units at West Penn and Allegheny Valley.

“Additional bargaining sessions are scheduled, and we are confident that we will reach an agreement,” he said.

He said the strike authorization vote is a “standard bargaining tactic” that doesn’t mean a strike will occur, but rather gives bargaining units’ leaders the ability to call for a 10-day strike notice at some point, if necessary.

“It is our hope that as in all past negotiations, this will not be necessary, and we’ll reach an agreement that’s in the best interests of our represented employees and our organization,” Laurent said.

Dates for strikes at West Penn Hospital and Allegheny Valley Hospital have not been set.

Last fall, nurses at Allegheny General Hospital negotiated added investments to retain existing staff and increase starting pay to $40 an hour.

“Nobody wants to strike, but we are ready to stand up for our patients and our professions, if necessary,” said Kristi Valasek, emergency department nurse at AVH. “There’s an urgent need to raise standards for patient care and staff retention across the Southwestern Pennsylvania hospitals, and we’re prepared to lead the way.”