Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Employees Rally At Sunnybrook
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This afternoon, September 16th, Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) union leaders and employees gathered outside of the Sunnybrook Complex to garner support for their failed contract negotiations with Community Health Systems (CHS). The chief stumbling block is health insurance contributions and pension benefits for employees.
Since the sale of PMMC to CHS, many things have changed. CHS is a for profit company that owns, operates or leases 122 hospitals in 29 states. In 65 percent of the markets serviced, CHS affiliated hospitals are the sole provider for healthcare services. CHS generated a net revenue of 10.8 billion dollars in 2008.
The 2009 second quarter net income was $59.4 million dollars! An increase of 24.1 per cent according to the CHS website http://www.chs.net/news/index.html.
Under the proposed CHS contract, full-time employee contributions for health insurance would double and part-time employee contributions would increase 400 per cent. CHS is also proposing the elimination of the defined benefit pension and replacing it with a 401K. It was unclear if there would be any matching employer contributions to the 401K.
Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas gave an uplifting speech to those gathered showing her support for hospital employees. Mayor Thomas spoke of the value of our community hospital and the need for fairness in these contract negotiations. Mayor Thomas stated a more informed public is watching. The mayors words of encouragement were warmly received and followed by much applause.
Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel also spoke to the assembly and offered his support to hardworking families in Montgomery County. He praised SEIU (Service Employees International Union, CTW, CLC). Commissioner Hoeffel went to explain the importance of community roots and how CHS is new to the Pottstown area. Healthcare and pension issues are critical to working people. Making these drastic changes causes employees to feel less wanted, less valued and to have low morale.
Commissioner Hoeffel said he is supporting what the employees are doing. They are fighting the good fight here in Pottstown and raising awareness about the need for good healthcare.
A number of PMMC employees also gave stirring talks about their own struggles with health and insurance issues underscoring the need that quality healthcare be provided to all hospital employees.
Also in attendance and showing their support for hospital workers were 6th Ward Councilman Jody Rhoads & Pottstown Mayoral Candiate Jerry Stick. Pottstown Mayoral Candidate Bonnie Heath was also in attendance. Channel 29 News also covered the event.
CHS will meet with union representatives on Thursday, September 17th, for further contract negotiations.
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I hate to think of how many quality Medical Professionals and Health Care Providers will be lost to the area because of this situation.
The PMMC is critical to the well being, safety and health care needs of this area, which further reinforces the need to solve this impasse as quickly as possible so as to continue to retain the levels of quality and professionalism we have become accustomed to, and deserve.
Just another example as to why we desperately need healthcare reform!!!!
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