Nurses fight terms for psychiatric unit jobs

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pennlive.com/business/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/business/1204768521133300.xml&coll=1

Thursday, March 06, 2008
BY DAVID WENNER
Of The Patriot-News

The CEO of a planned inpatient psychiatric facility in Harrisburg says unionized nurses won't prevent the facility from opening April 1.

The union representing nurses at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Wednesday asked a federal court in Harrisburg to block the opening of the 74-bed facility.

Hershey Medical Center plans to operate the facility in partnership with PinnacleHealth System. It would be nonunion.

Hospital officials and mental health advocates say it's needed to address a shortage of beds for people with severe mental illness. It will be located at PinnacleHealth's Polyclinic campus. PinnacleHealth and Hershey Medical Center plan to consolidate all their inpatient psychiatric services at the site.

Nurses at Hershey Medical Center are members of the Service Employees International Union.

The medical center psychiatric nurses have been offered jobs at the facility, but at noncontract terms, according to the union and Hershey Medical Center officials. Nurses would also come from PinnacleHealth, where most aren't union members.

FULL story at link.

[mac2]

1. It would be nonunion and private run?