A group of unions filed an antitrust complaint with the US Department of Justice against UPMC. They accuse the health care system of not paying workers fair wages and of deteriorating working conditions. “Our complaint asserts that UPMC has acquired market power in both hospital and labor markets across Pennsylvania and has unfairly used that power to harm patients and workers,” said Matt Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. Yarnell led a virtual meeting Thursday about the complaint. The groups involved in filing the complaint say it is based on a nine-month investigation that showed that UPMC has pay gaps and that the facilities are understaffed to the extent that it harms workers and patients. “After 17 years on the job and two promotions, I now make just over $20 an hour,” said Nella Payton, an administrative assistant in pathology. “This may sound like a lot, but the living wage for my family in Pittsburgh is $28 an hour.” “UPMC has discovered that it can increase its profits by keeping us understaffed and underpaid,” said Jodi Valtin, a registered nurse. “Now, in 2023, there’s seldom a shift where we don’t worry about hiring. Driving to work, our minds are full of questions. Are we going to have to see more patients?” US Rep. Summer Lee, D-Penn., told me she supports unions. “We have hospital workers who live paycheck to paycheck. They are unable to cover their basic needs. Instead of paying them livable wages, UPMC is asking them to use the staff food pantries,” he told me. In the antitrust complaint to the Justice Department, UPMC spokesperson Paul Wood said, in part, “UPMC is moving to $18 an hour for our nonunion workforce by 2025. This is the highest entry level of any health care provider in the state.” The statement went on to say that UPMC’s median wage is over $78,000 per year.
A group of unions filed an antitrust complaint with the US Department of Justice against UPMC. They accuse the healthcare system of not paying workers a fair wage and of worsening working conditions.
“Our complaint asserts that UPMC has appropriated market power in both the hospital and labor markets throughout Pennsylvania and unfairly used that power to harm patients and staff,” said Matt Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania.
On Thursday, Yarnell led a virtual meeting about the complaint.
The groups involved in filing the complaint say they drew on a nine-month investigation that showed UPMC had pay gaps and facilities were understaffed to the detriment of workers and patients.
“After 17 years on the job and promotions, I now make just over $20 an hour,” said Nella Payton, an administrative assistant in pathology. “This may sound like a lot, but the living wage for my family in Pittsburgh is $28 an hour.”
“UPMC has discovered that it can maximize its profits by keeping us understaffed and underpaid,” said Jodi Valtin, a registered nurse. “Now, in 2023, there’s seldom a shift where we don’t worry about hiring. Driving to work, our minds are full of questions. Are we going to have to see more patients?”
US Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pennsylvania, said she supports unions.
He told me, “We have hospital workers living paycheck to paycheck. They are unable to cover their basic needs. Instead of paying them livable wages, UPMC tells them to use the staff food pantries.”
Asked about the antitrust complaint to the Justice Department, UPMC spokesperson Paul Wood said, in part, “UPMC is moving to $18 an hour for our non-union workforce by 2025. That is the highest entry level of any health care provider in the state.” The statement went on to say that UPMC’s average wage is over $78,000 per year.
#UPMC #facing #antitrust #complaint