BMH techs vote to unionize
Butler Memorial Hospital’s medical technicians voted to unionize on Thursday, May 22.
According to a news release from the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, the vote happened both in-person and by mail and results were tallied by just before 5 p.m. The organization said in the release individuals, “voted overwhelmingly to unionize with PASNAP.”
The union will include 235 technicians, including surgical techs, respiratory therapists, radiology techs, LPNs and others.
According to the release, the newly unionized employees are seeking some of the same things the hospital’s unionized nurses recently looked for in negotiating their new contract, which was ratified May 12. Items of note included member safety and staff retention.
BMH nurses were negotiating a new contract for the first time since Excela Health and Butler Health System merged in 2023 to form Independence Health System, which includes four hospitals in Western Pennsylvania.
“I’m so happy for the members of our Butler Tech group who have decided to show up and speak out about wanting a voice in their workplace — they now have the opportunity to negotiate a fair and equitable contract!” Tammy May, Butler ICU nurse and president of Pennsylvania Independent Nurses at BMH said in the release. “Our Butler PASNAP RNs are looking forward to collaborating with our newest Union brothers and sisters!”
Independence Health expressed hopes it will be able to work cooperatively with the union moving forward.
“Independence Health System is committed to delivering expert care, here, in the communities we serve,” Kelley Skoloda, chief marketing and communications officer for Independence Health System, said in a statement to the Butler Eagle. “We deeply value the contributions of our technical staff, respect the vote of the Butler Memorial Hospital technical employees to unionize, and remain committed to working cooperatively and respectfully.”
