Scranton Healthcare Workers Hold Informational Picket

Scranton, Lackawanna County - Dozens of hospital workers in Scranton hit the picket lines Tuesday afternoon.

The employees were not on strike but wanted to raise attention to the fact that they've been working without a contract for several weeks.

The union at Regional Hospital of Scranton held an information picket along Jefferson Avenue. Workers say the hospital's administration has proposed contract changes that would allow for outsourcing of jobs in every one of the hospital's departments.

Staffing levels were on the minds of every worker.

"Sometimes one nurse is taking care of 15 patients and their call bells are going off and no one is there to answer them because they have 15 patients and they have a lot of stuff to do," registered technologist Cathy Williams said.

The informational picket drew a lot of attention from patients and their families who wondered what was going on.

Lindsay DiPalma has been at the hospital with a sick relative. She says she is happy with the service her family has received but has heard some employees talking.

"I have heard them say stuff about being understaffed and not having enough people so that does concern me too because if they're concerned then it trickles down through to the patients," DiPalma said.

There are more than 800 employees in the hospital's union. They've only been working without a new contract since late February but have been negotiating since December.

"I've been to seven different bargaining meetings and we haven't gotten anywhere," Michel Lipperini said. "We're not necessarily at an impasse yet but we haven't budged. We haven't agreed to anything."

The possibility of outsourcing jobs is also a concern amongst staff.

Some patients say the hospital is just doing what it needs to stay competitive and hope a solution is found quickly.

"I don't believe they're putting the profits before the patients because I get very good care here, one of the best hospitals in the area," Susan Castiglioni of Scranton said.

A spokesman for Regional Hospital of Scranton released a statement: "Regional Hospital of Scranton is operating as usual today and our top priority is the care and safety of our patients, employees and visitors. All inpatient, outpatient and emergency services are available and all surgeries and diagnostic procedures are continuing as scheduled."