Twin Tiers Nurses Walk Out, Strike for Better Pay and Safety

In an unprecedented move, more than 800 nurses have launched a strike in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

The nurses work for Geisinger and have launched the strike because they are worried about not having enough staff, not being paid fairly, and over the safety of both the staff and the patients. The nurses are standing outside three different Geisinger locations to show how important they believe it to be that changes are made in the healthcare system.

The Fight for Fair Compensation and Safety Measures

Registered nurse Jimmy Romanelli shared with WNEP that the nurses are determined. He said, "We've been in contract negotiations with Geisinger for about a couple of months now since November, so we're here trying to fight for what we believe in."

Represented by the Service Employees International Union Health Care Pennsylvania, the striking healthcare employees are advocating for fair compensation, affordable health care, and enhanced safety measures for both staff and patients.

Shortage of Staff Impacts on Patient Care

One of the big problems brought up during the strike is that there isn't enough staff, which is directly affecting how patients are taken care of and their safety. Registered nurse Eileen Bray stressed the importance of having enough staff, saying, "Right now, we are 300 RNs short, so we have to really work hard to try and get that, just for the safety of our community, for the safety of all of our patients at the hospital."

Geisinger's Response and Hope for Resolution

In response to the strike, Geisinger has reinforced its commitment to offering competitive compensation and benefits to its union-affiliated registered nurses. The healthcare organization hopes to have a dialogue with the SEIU to reach a mutually agreeable contract that addresses the concerns raised by the nurses.