Hospital, union exchanged contract proposals Monday after union threatens strike
Independence Health System’s Butler Memorial Hospital and the union representing 235 medical technicians exchanged proposals in their contract negotiations Monday as the union’s planned five-day strike is looming.
At a news conference Monday, the technicians, represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, said a negotiation meeting scheduled for that morning didn’t take place, but hospital administrators delivered a wage proposal.
The news conference was held at the Ramada by Wyndham Butler/Tesla Biohealing Resort in Butler Township, where union members said the negotiating session for their first contract was supposed to he held.
Union members said they responded to the wage proposal, but haven’t heard back from the hospital, and said they still plan to stage a five-day strike beginning at 6 a.m. May 19.
“We responded to their proposal as they said this morning with significant movement on our end. We have responded they are viewing it with no counter at this time,” said Tara Erksine, a CT tech and bargaining committee member, said.
Don Geibel, a nuclear medicine tech, said members are optimistic that the sides will reach consensus on a contract.
Surgical technicians, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, LPNs and other workers voted in May 2025 to join the union, and negotiations for their first contract began about 10 months ago. They voted last month to authorize a potential strike, and announced plans for the five-day strike Friday.
Wages, staffing and healthcare costs are major issues in the negotiations, according to the union. New tech hires often receive higher pay than experienced techs who train them, tech wages are below the market and that of nearby hospitals, and most haven’t received a raise in two years or longer, the union said.
“This morning, Independence Health System leadership came to the table and provided a wage proposal after I personally emailed the hospital president,” Erksine said. “That is movement and movement matters, but one proposal does not resolve a 10-month delay, and it does not by itself settle a contract.”
She said a contract can be reached if Independence continues to negotiate.
“We need more than a proposal. We need real negotiations. We need management to stay at the table and work through the issues. We aren’t asking for anything unreasonable,” Geibel said.
Independence did not acknowledge either proposal when contacted later Monday, but said it is making staffing and operational plans for patient care in the event of a strike.
“After receiving PASNAP’s 10‑day strike notice, Butler Memorial Hospital postponed bargaining to focus on implementing contingency staffing and operational plans to protect uninterrupted patient care in the event of a strike,” Independence said in a statement.
The health system said the public tactics used by the union are part of a well-known pressure campaign, and do not accurately reflect the progress made through negotiations.
“Staged press events and public theatrics may generate headlines, but they do not move negotiations forward or improve patient care. Butler Memorial Hospital remains ready to continue bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that avoids a work stoppage and serves the best interests of our patients, employees and the community,” according to Independence.
