Hundreds Of Montgomery County Hospital Employees Set To Strike Over Wage Dispute

All is not well in the world of healthcare in Montgomery County.

Employees at the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center are planning, on October 1, to give a 10-day notice of a impending strike.

The workers cite a new contract offer from Medical Center management which they say offers wage increases that are unfairly low.

In a press release, they said that the hospital is ranked as the 6th most profitable in the state, and that workers should be accordingly compensated.

“According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, Pottstown hospital brought in $24 million in profits last year, making it the sixth most profitable hospital in the state, with an operating margin higher than Exxon and Shell Oil,” the workers said in a press release. “Despite this success, management’s latest contract offer would move many workers backwards, with wage increases lower than the national average and a potential 30% hike in healthcare premiums, which would make healthcare unaffordable for some.”

Protesters said that they would be joined by elected officials, community and religious leaders and other supporters for a press conference after they deliver the strike notice inside the hospital on Thursday.

They added that the protesters numbered at 275, which included LPNs, nursing aides, and tech positions in the hospital. Their 3-year contract expired August 31st.