Geisinger employees rally for ‘living wages’ | News, Sports, Jobs

Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Healthcare workers at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital gathered for the ‘Thanksgiving Rally for Living Wages to Put Food on Our Table’ on Tuesday at the United Steelworkers Hall, 519 Electric Ave., in Lewistown.

LEWISTOWN — The holidays are normally a joyous time of year for Angel McConaughey where she hosts her family for Thanksgiving and exchanges gifts at Christmas.

Not this year.

McConaughey simply can’t afford it. Her vehicle — her only source of transportation to her job at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital where she is employed as a certified environmental services specialist — broke down and she had to take out a high-interest loan to get a new one.

“I’m just adding another financial burden,” McConaughey said of her plight. “I’ve got co-workers in worse conditions.”

She was one of a handful of speakers to talk at a “Thanksgiving Rally for Living Wages to Put Food on Our Table” on Tuesday afternoon at the United Steelworkers Hall, 519 Electric Ave., in Lewistown.

Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Healthcare workers at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital gathered for the ‘Thanksgiving Rally for Living Wages to Put Food on Our Table’ on Tuesday at the United Steelworkers Hall, 519 Electric Ave., in Lewistown.

About 50 of the 150 healthcare workers at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, who have authorized a strike if necessary, appeared at the rally. The event was also attended by Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, who spoke on behalf of the community that relies on the hospital staff for care. “They (Geisinger) have an experienced staff who stays instead of looking for better-paying jobs.”

To make their point, those workers held the rally, organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Pennsylvania. Organizers displayed a Thanksgiving table at the event, complete with empty plates and piles of workers’ bills for groceries, utilities and other costs.

A release issued last week by the SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania alleges that while corporate owner Kaiser Permanente earned almost $8 billion in profits this year and the CEO made over $12 million in 2023, many frontline workers struggle to afford a basic Thanksgiving meal on wages as low as $15.25

Additionally, the release stated Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital made almost $26 million in operating profit in fiscal year 2024. A union representative said while executives make millions, many workers are forced to rely on government assistance for food and healthcare for their families. Inflation has increased the cost of living by nearly 25% in the past five years, the release said.

A union representative added workers have had enough with out-of-control corporate greed, especially in healthcare, and it is time for executives to pay them fairly so they can ensure quality patient care. Geisinger-Lewistown is one of the largest employers in the Juniata River Valley and raising wages would uplift the entire community.

“Hopefully, the Dec. 2 talks recognize the high value of local workers,” Kodish added. “It needs to be a team effort by everyone.”

These workers include nursing assistants, environmental services workers who sanitize and clean the hospital, dietary aides, patient transporters, skilled maintenance and others who do the essential labor to keep the hospital running.

Union representatives said Geisinger executives have proposed raises as little as 26 cents per hour, which workers say is disrespectful of their hard work and vital contributions to the hospital, and an outrageous slap in the face to all working people.

McConaughey said it’s difficult for staff to maintain cleaning standards when they must work grueling hours. McConaughey became emotional when recounting a story about her family saying they hadn’t seen her recently because of the long hours she works.

McConaughey also said the hospital currently has one overnight specialist to clean the entire building, including the emergency department, laboratory, operating rooms, delivery and labor rooms, etc. That person is simply overworked and underpaid, she added.

Some work long hours yet can’t afford hospital insurance. “It’s heartbreaking to see them hesitate to seek medical attention in their own hospital,” McConaughey said. “They can’t afford healthcare even working at a hospital.”

Hospital workers have been in union contract negotiations with Kaiser-Geisinger for months and their contract expired on Nov. 14, 2025. The vast majority have voted to authorize a strike and signed onto a petition vowing to participate, if necessary, the union said.

In response to the announcement of a potential strike, a representative of Geisinger referred to a previous statement from last week: “Geisinger values the critical contributions of our unionized staff at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital. We appreciate the expertise and compassion with which they support patient care. We respect their rights as SEIU members and are committed to ongoing good-faith bargaining to reach a mutually agreeable labor contract. While a member of Risant Health, Geisinger operates independently, and these negotiations are exclusively between Geisinger and the SEIU.”

Workers will resume negotiations with Geisinger on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, to attempt to reach a new agreement and avoid a potential strike. If they do call a strike, the workers would provide the hospital with a 10-day notice to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.