A bunch of labor unions filed an antitrust grievance in opposition to UPMC, the 18th largest hospital chain within the nation, on Thursday. The plaintiffs alleged that the well being system has prevented its staff from with the ability to advocate for themselves and their sufferers via “a draconian system of mobility restrictions and widespread labor legislation violations that lock in sub-competitive pay and dealing circumstances.” UPMC informed MedCity Information that it denies these allegations.
Pittsburgh-based UPMC employs 92,000 individuals, making it the most important personal sector employer in Pennsylvania. The well being system presently operates 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient amenities, which herald an annual income of $26 billion. Final yr, UPMC reported a $916 million loss.
Thursday’s grievance in opposition to UPMC was filed by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, a union of healthcare staff and caregivers within the state, and the Strategic Organizing Heart, a coalition of three labor unions. The unions alleged that UPMC has constructed a monopsony. This happens when an organization turns into the only real purchaser of a great or service in a area, whereas a monopoly refers to 1 firm being the only real producer of a great or service.
The plaintiffs argued that UPMC created a monopsony as a result of it has accomplished a minimum of 28 acquisitions between 1996 and 2019. But, throughout this time interval, the well being system additionally closed 4 hospitals and downsized three others, leading to 353 eradicated beds and 1,800 job losses. These mergers and the next reductions in capability have “harmed competitors in each enter and output markets,” the unions wrote within the grievance.
The unions additionally alleged that UPMC “engaged in a multi-faceted marketing campaign” to uphold and strengthen its monopsony energy over its staff and stop them from leaving.
One of many marketing campaign’s ways was to suppress wages whereas reducing staffing and rising workloads, based on the grievance. The plaintiffs referenced a examine performed by Econ One Analysis, which confirmed that UPMC’s shopping for energy in labor markets has artificially saved wages low for its staff. The analysis confirmed that when the well being system’s market share will increase, its staff’ wages lower relative to comparable hospital workers at a fee of 30 to 57 cents per hour on common in diminished pay for each 10% improve in UPMC’s market share.
The grievance additionally alleged that UPMC protected its means to supply sub-competitive pay and poor working circumstances via noncompete clauses and “do-not-rehire” blacklisting for staff. The well being system additionally restricted staff’ labor legislation rights in order that they couldn’t type unions to enhance their working circumstances, the grievance charged.
The unions additionally argue that UPMC’s staffing ranges have been dangerously low lately. The grievance stated that as of 2020, the well being system’s worker-to-patient staffing ratios are 19% decrease than the typical ratios at non-UPMC hospitals. It additionally declared that UPMC’s staffing ratios correlate negatively with its market share, as ratios are the bottom the place the well being system has larger market shares and highest the place it has decrease market shares.
Of their grievance, the plaintiffs cited UPMC staff’ testimonies at a September listening to to state lawmakers concerning staffing issues at Pittsburgh-area hospitals. At that listening to, one worker, Kya Humphries, stated it’s extremely tough to offer high quality care “when each single particular person concerned in care” has been stretched to their breaking level.
“After we’re offering care with out sufficient workers, we all know sufferers aren’t getting meals on time or ready too lengthy to make use of the lavatory. We all know that extra falls will occur. We all know we’re not going to have the ability to present the form of care that we wish to. That’s not truthful to the sufferers, and it’s not truthful to the employees who’re doing every thing they’ll to offer their sufferers the most effective care they’ll,” Humphries stated.
The unions argued that if UPMC have been topic to aggressive market pressures, the well being system can be compelled to boost wages to be able to entice extra staff and supply enough staffing ranges. However as a substitute, the well being system has leveraged its monopsony energy within the markets the place it operates to “insulate it from the strain of competitors,” the plaintiffs wrote.
In a press release to MedCity Information, UPMC Chief Communications Officer Paul Wooden stated that the well being system is transferring to $18 per hour for its non-union workforce by 2025. He known as this the very best entry-level wage of any healthcare supplier within the state.
Wooden declared that UPMC gives its nursing care primarily based on sufferers’ wants and acuity somewhat than fastened staffing ratios. This allows the well being system to “workers with flexibility,” he countered. He additionally denied that the well being system blacklists its workers who go away from being rehired by one other UPMC facility.
This isn’t the primary time UPMC has come below fireplace for maintaining wages low and stopping staff from unionizing. In January, two Pennsylvania lawmakers warned their constituents in regards to the well being system, claiming that its anti-competitive practices have negatively affected each worker wellbeing and affected person security.
Photograph: Bet_Noire, Getty Photographs
