EAST FRANKLIN TWP, Armstrong County — The union representing licensed practical nurses and medical technicians at ACMH Hospital ended its one-day strike this morning, but many of the members are not returning to work today.

Curtis Dahn, staff representative for the PASNAP union, said the hospital has locked out the majority of the union workers until Friday.

“They are continuing to illegally lock out some of our members,” Dahn said. “They still have replacement workers in the hospital.”

The hospital in a statement released today said it is not a lockout.

“There is not a ‘lockout’ of employees as some have returned to work today and are being called back as the hospital’s needs dictate,” the release said.

Many of the 123 members the union marched in a one-day picket line Tuesday to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations.

The primary demand by the union in negotiations is to get more staff hired.

Dahn said while the hospital has locked out some workers, he claims it threatened other members with discipline if they did not show up for work.

“They locked out some, and illegally threatened others,” he said. “But the majority of them are locked out.”

Dahn said members of the union will be picketing in West Kittanning and Kittanning this afternoon.

The hospital denied any wrongdoing during negotiations.

“Despite the union’s claims, ACMH has bargained in good faith over the many open issues and will continue to do so, since several additional meetings have been scheduled,” the release said.

“It’s unfortunate that PASNAP chose to engage in a strike and other misleading and deceptive publicity as a way to try to enhance their bargaining position at this stage of the process.”

The two sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Thursday morning.