NLRB approves union election by nurses at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

UPMC must allow nurses working at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital to hold a union election, the regional National Labor Relations Board ruled Friday.

Nurses at the Oakland hospital in May announced they wanted to unionize, calling for better staff-to-patient ratios, higher pay and more transparency from UPMC.

About 1,000 nurses will be involved in the union election, according to the NLRB.

Mariah Park, a labor and delivery nurse at Magee, told TribLive ahead of the NLRB’s decision that being permitted to hold the election is a major step forward for nurses looking to join the Service Employees International Union.

“As nurses, we really think we could help UPMC Magee even better if we have a seat at the table,” Park, 28, of Edgewood, said. “I think UPMC owes us the opportunity to at least have this vote and let every single nurse at the hospital have a vote.”

Park said she’s looking to unionize so nurses can advocate for better staffing, which would allow nurses to spend more time with their patients.

“We respect each UPMC Magee employee’s right to choose or decline union membership,” according to a written statement provided Monday by Paul Wood, a UPMC spokesperson.

The health care giant, Wood said, will adhere to the NLRB’s rules.

“UPMC Magee encourages all eligible employees to vote so that their voices will be heard,” Wood said.

Nurses in May held a rally outside the hospital, calling for better pay and for UPMC to eliminate the salary cap they claim keeps nurses from making more money. UPMC denies having such a salary cap.

Information provided by UPMC indicated nursing turnover at Magee is 4.8%, compared to 16.7% at unionized UPMC hospitals. The national average is around 16%, according to Wood.

After the May rally, Wood said entry-level UPMC nurses can earn over $50 per hour within four years.

The union election for Magee nurses is scheduled for Aug. 19 and 23.