PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) – Some workers, patients, and their supporters rallied in Oakland Tuesday afternoon in support of higher wages, the right to form a union, and an end to the UPMC-Highmark split set for June 30.
“We are given wages that we cannot live off of,” says UPMC worker Gwen Tinsley.
UPMC research assistant Anna Nelson says she can’t afford her UPMC health insurance. “We are struggling to pay off that debt but we are not able to pay it off because we’re not getting paid well by our employer who is also our insurer.”
Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman spoke at the rally and joined a smaller group of protestors inside a UPMC Shadyside-Presbyterian board meeting.
“I would like it if they paid their employees a generous living wage. I would like it if they would clear the medical debt of their employees,” said Fetterman. He also predicted the state Supreme Court will either delay or overturn the June 30 deadline for UPMC and Highmark to cut off relations.
In a statement, UPMC Vice President Paul Wood said, “UPMC was the first health care organization in our region to commit to $15 an hour.” He added, “The average pay for our service workers reached $15.09 in February 2018.
And he says employees with higher wages contribute more toward their medical benefits and out of pocket minimums while those earning lower wages pay less.
Others attending the rally included State Representatives Ed Gainey, Summer Lee, and Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner, and Darrin Kelly who heads the Allegheny Fayette Central Labor Council.
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