Hospital, union reach agreement; strike called off

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2008/01/29/news/doc479fe7184db38232436159.txt

By Michael Pound, Times Staff
Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:48 PM EST

ALIQUIPPA — Officials at Commonwealth Medical Center and the union that represents many of the hospital’s employees broke a standoff on Tuesday, announcing an agreement that headed off a strike that was to begin today.

Local members of Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania had voted to strike this week after every hospital employee was fired — and many were not rehired — when the hospital officially changed owners three weeks ago.

Officials announced Tuesday that the strike had been averted, thanks to talks between Willie Wilson, the hospital’s interim chief executive officer, and Neal Bisno, the union’s state secretary-treasurer.

“Neal and I had some good discussions, and we got to the point where we can keep things together,” Wilson said. “We want to have a good relationship with our employees, and we’ve taken a step in that direction.”

Wilson said the agreement means that the hospital’s new owners “recognize the union’s right to be a bargaining agent for certain employees.” He refused to discuss the specifics of the next steps, other than to say the hospital and the union will be talking soon.

“Negotiations will be next, but the specifics are best left to the hospital and the union,” Wilson said. “We’re looking forward to productive discussions.”


FULL story at link.