Geisinger Facilities Remain Open Due to Strike

Geisinger facilities in Luzerne County remain open as SEIU nurses begin 5-day strike

Registered nurses affiliated with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Pennsylvania started a 5-day strike at 7 a.m. Monday at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre and Geisinger Healthplex CenterPoint after several weeks of negotiations between SEIU and Geisinger failed to produce a mutually agreeable labor contract. Despite any labor actions, those facilities remain open and staffed with experienced, licensed registered nurses.

“We have activated a contingency plan that includes bringing in additional staff on a temporary basis so these critical health care resources in Luzerne County can operate business as usual to continue delivering high-quality care to everyone in need during the strike,” said Renee Blakiewicz, R.N., vice president and chief nursing officer for Geisinger’s northeast region. “In addition to nurses, other members of the clinical team, including physicians and advanced practice providers, will care for our patients as they always have. We are fully committed to ensuring continuity of care for our community during the strike.”

Geisinger does not expect to postpone any procedures or elective surgeries during the strike.

Geisinger values the compassionate work registered nurses do every day for the community and respects the rights of the SEIU-affiliated nurses to collectively bargain.

“We have been negotiating in good faith, and a strike is the last thing we wanted to see happen,” said Brion Lieberman, chief human resources officer for Geisinger. “We want to compensate our nurses for their great work, while maintaining the ability to add clinical staff, improve our facilities and grow the services we offer this community. We have offered a starting salary of more than $85,000 per year for fulltime staff with yearly increases and comprehensive health benefits. We hope SEIU will return to the bargaining table so we can reach a mutually agreeable contract.”