An Erie nurse is suing the state’s largest private employer.
Victoria Ross has filed a class-action antitrust lawsuit against UPMC alleging the company has been participating in unfair labor practices and artificially depressing wages in their hospitals.
‘We deserve more than that’ – Local nurse speaks out after UPMC makes pay cuts
Ross is seeking compensation for employees who worked at UPMC starting in 1996.
According to court paperwork, UPMC has allegedly been suppressing worker’s attempts to form labor unions and putting former employees on a blacklist that bars them from being rehired into the healthcare system
UPMC Chief Communications Officer Paul Wood said in a statement:
“This lawsuit is a continuation of the SEIU’s failed 13-year effort to publicly pressure UPMC into unilaterally forcing employees to unionize – something they do not want.
Over a year ago, UPMC announced an increase to a minimum of $18 per hour for the non-union workforce by 2025. This is the highest entry-level wage of any healthcare provider in the state.