UPMC employees announce plan to go on strike if demands aren’t met

PITTSBURGH — After nearly two years of working through the pandemic, a group of UPMC employees gathered at the front of the Steel Tower with a list of demands.

“Lately, we’ve been short-staffed, and don’t have the people necessary to do our jobs. If we don’t have the people necessary to do our jobs, how can they expect us to take care of patients properly?” UPMC Food and Nutrition employee, Khalil Brown said.

In addition to adding more staff, employees are asking for better wages and benefits.

State senator Lindsey Williams was there to support employees, and their hard work throughout COVID-19.

“UPMC could have recognized it, acknowledged it, given them hazard pay. Instead, we get signs that say ‘healthcare heroes work here,’ and a pat on the back,” Senator Williams said.

Pharmacy Assistant, Julia Centofantia, told Channel 11 at times it’s hard to feed her kids because she doesn’t make enough money working at UPMC.

“We can’t afford to live in the communities that we have built,” Centofantia said.

She and her colleagues want to form a union without fear of being retaliated against.

“It’s a hospital wide strike. UPMC, we are no longer afraid of you,” Centofantia said.

UPMC did announce they will be giving all employees a $500 bonus. Today, a spokesperson didn’t return our request for a comment.

UPMC offers COVID-19 booster shots

©2021 Cox Media Group