Registered nurses at Pittsburgh-based West Penn Hospital have voted to authorize their negotiating committee to issue a strike notice amid contract negotiations, according to hospital and union statements.
The vote took place July 26 and July 27 among members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, which represents more than 650 nurses at West Penn.
Union members cited a need for adequate investment in recruitment and retention of nurses.
"Despite months of negotiations, West Penn management has failed to make the kind of investment needed to recruit and retain nurses. We want to work hard over the next week to try and reach a settlement that ensures our patients will continue to get the high-quality care they expect," Melissa Gates, a postpartum nurse at West Penn, said in a July 28 news release. "We hope that management will not force us to strike, but we will do whatever it takes to stand up for our patients."
Nurses have been in negotiations with hospital management since January. The authorization does not mean a strike will occur, but it gives the union the ability to call a strike if an agreement is not reached.
The hospital's operator, Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network, released a statement emphasizing the hospital's commitment to negotiations.
"We remain committed to good faith bargaining with the union and are optimistic that a contract can be reached with our nurses at West Penn that is fair and competitive for our employees, while also fiscally responsible for our organization," hospital representatives said.
Negotiations are scheduled to resume July 29.