EAST FRANKLIN TWP, Armstrong County — Many of the 123 members of a union that is representing licensed practical nurses and medical technicians at ACMH Hospital are marching a one-day picket line today to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations.

The union workers have been trying to reach their first contract since organizing in June.

“This is all about patient safety,” said Curtis Dahn, staff representative for the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals union. “The hospital refuses to staff in a way that we feel is safe, and they refuse to negotiate.”

Protestors lined the entrance to the hospital early this morning, holding signs reading “On strike to protest unfair labor practices.”

The hospital, in a statement released Monday, said it was ready for the strike.

“Our plan at ACMH is that the strike will not affect the operations of the hospital. Since the federal law requires unions to give a 10-day advance notice of a strike, the hospital has had ample time to establish a contingency plan to effectively continue its services.”

The hospital statement also said that there would be no lockout of workers on Wednesday and Thursday. The union earlier claimed the lockout was coming based on comments at the end of a negotiating session last week. Dahn said this morning he expects the hospital to lock out some of the workers when they report to work Wednesday.

Dahn said the union is made up of various hospital workers, including lab technicians, respiratory therapists, x-ray technicians and licensed practical nurses.

Pat Ray, union vice president, said workers would report for work if there is no lockout. She said the union’s primary demand in negotiations is to get more staff hired.

Ray, who works in respiratory therapy, said she used to work in a 12-person department.

“Now we have nine staff members and more cases.”

She said sometimes the staff is stretched thin enough that they can’t get all of the doctors’ orders completed. She said the staff deals with people with breathing difficulties.

“If we’re busy, five minutes is a long time (for them) to wait,” she said.

Ray, who has been at the hospital for nearly two decades, said the issue with staffing has been ongoing since at least 2006.

Angelique Richards, a respiratory therapist, said the short staffing is detrimental for patients.

“If you can’t breathe, I’m breathing for you,” she said. “We’re too busy right now. The workload is very high. We just don’t have time, and that’s not fair to the patients.”

Richards said her busy schedules makes it difficult for her to fully educate the patients she is helping.

“I just want the ability to do my job and give the patients the care they deserve,” she said.

However, the hospital paints a different picture.

“There is, and will be, adequate staffing at the hospital to ensure that all patients receive treatments when necessary. No patient has ever been or will be put in a health threatening situation because of lack of staffing.

“There are protocols in place to ensure that patients receive needed treatments regardless of how busy a particular staff member may be at a given time. The union’s claims are false and shamefully intended to scare the public.”

Dahn said the two sides will go back to the negotiations Thursday morning.

“We’re going to go to the table with the intention of reaching an agreement, like all our sessions,” he said. “We’re hoping the hospital will finally come in and bargain in good faith. Hopefully this is enough to make them come to their senses.”