2026 Negotiations Update
August 3, 2026
Mount Nittany Medical Center and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania met Monday for another bargaining session and exchanged updated proposals. While significant differences remain, we are committed to continuing negotiations and working toward a fair and sustainable agreement.
Since our earlier proposal was presented, Mount Nittany Health finalized its Fiscal Year 2026 financial results, recording its first operating loss in more than a decade. At the same time, we continued to evaluate the impact of losing our Sole Community Hospital designation, ongoing reimbursement pressures and increased expenses, including the cost of the five-day strike. Together, these developments changed our financial outlook and required us to reassess what we can responsibly sustain in a labor agreement while continuing to invest in the care and services our community depends on.
As a result, the commitments we can responsibly sustain today are different from when our earlier proposal was developed. It reflects our responsibility to make commitments we can honor while protecting patient care, preserving local services and ensuring Mount Nittany Health remains a strong locally-governed, independent community health system.
We value our employees and the care they provide, and we remain prepared to continue meeting with SEIU to work toward an agreement.
Previous Updates
After meeting again this evening, Mount Nittany Medical Center and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania were unable to reach an agreement. As a result, the previously announced five-day strike will begin as scheduled on Monday, July 27.
In an effort to reach an agreement and avoid a strike, Mount Nittany Medical Center presented a revised proposal that included:
- A one-year contract extension.
- A 3% across-the-board wage increase for all bargaining unit employees.
- A $1,000 ratification bonus for every bargaining unit employee.
- Wage scale upgrades for 18 job classifications.
- Continued investments in workplace safety.
The union did not accept the revised proposal, did not provide a counter proposal and ended the bargaining session without further discussion.
While we are disappointed that an agreement was not reached, we remain committed to bargaining in good faith and remain prepared to return to the negotiating table at any time. Our highest priority continues to be providing safe, high-quality care to our patients and community throughout this process.
Today, Mount Nittany Medical Center and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania met again to continue contract negotiations. While discussions continued, the parties were unable to reach agreement on the key economic issues that remain outstanding.
Mount Nittany Medical Center's proposal continues to include the following Registered Nurse investments. However, the union's counterproposal proposed removing these items from the agreement:
Registered Nurse pay grade adjustments
A new preceptor differential
An increase to the weekend differential
The union's proposal includes general wage increases of:
- 5.75% increase in Year 1
- 4.5% increase in Year 2
- 4% increase in Year 3
Mount Nittany Medical Center’s proposal includes general wage increases of:
- 3% increase in Year 1 (RNs: 2% paygrade increase + 3% general wage increase = 5%)
- 2% increase in Year 2
- 2% increase in Year 3
Our proposal also includes significant additional investments beyond general wage increases, including pay grade adjustments for 19 positions, paid parental leave, continued investments in workplace safety, and no proposed changes to employee healthcare benefits.
We know these negotiations are important to our employees and to the future of our health system. Our goal remains to reach a fair agreement that recognizes our employees' contributions while ensuring Mount Nittany Health remains a strong, independent health system able to continue serving our community.
Our proposal represents a meaningful investment in our employees while ensuring Mount Nittany Health remains a strong, independent health system for the future. We know every percentage point impacts real people and real families: A nurse caring for patients overnight. A technician behind the scenes. A maintenance worker keeping our facilities up and running. An imaging professional helping diagnose illness. That's why our proposal goes beyond a single wage increase to include pay grade adjustments and additional investments in the people who make exceptional care possible.
Every bargaining unit employee would receive a general wage increase of:
- 3% in Year 1
- 2% in Year 2
- 2% in Year 3
Additional wage increases:
- Nearly 19 non-nursing positions move to higher pay grades resulting in increases from 1% to 10%
- MRI Tech, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiation Therapist, Special Procedures Tech, EMT, Emergency Department Tech, Paramedic, Plant Operations Worker, Maintenance Worker, Boiler Room Specialist, Utility Specialist, Operating Room Aide.
- The average Utility Specialist currently earns $30.03 per hour and under our new proposal the average utility specialist would earn $32.19 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average MRI Technologist currently earns $42.23 per hour and under our new proposal the average MRI Technologist would earn $44.73 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average Radiation Therapist currently earns $44.39 per hour and under our new proposal the average Radiation Therapist would earn $47.03 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average Kitchen Worker I currently earns $22.04 per hour and under our new proposal the average Kitchen Worker I would earn $22.70 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average Certified Phlebotomist currently earns $26.93 per hour and under our new proposal the average Certified Phlebotomist would earn $27.74 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average Nuclear Medicine Technologist currently earns $40.61 per hour and under our new proposal the average Nuclear Medicine Technologist would earn $44.29 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- The average Environmental Services Aide currently earns $21.96 per hour and under our new proposal the average Environmental Services Aide would earn $22.62 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- MRI Tech, Nuclear Medicine Tech, Radiation Therapist, Special Procedures Tech, EMT, Emergency Department Tech, Paramedic, Plant Operations Worker, Maintenance Worker, Boiler Room Specialist, Utility Specialist, Operating Room Aide.
- Seniority increases ranging from 2% to 10% for applicable positions
- Registered Nurses:
- 5% increase in year one (2% pay grade increase + 3% general wage increase)
- The average bargaining unit Registered Nurse currently earns $45.45 per hour and under our new proposal the average registered nurse would earn $47.74 per hour, before any applicable seniority increases.
- Weekend differential increased to $1.50 per hour, a 100% increase
- New $2.00 per hour preceptor differential
Beyond wages, our proposal also invests in our employees and their families by including:
- Two weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child, available to both parents.
- An increase in the annual uniform allowance from $250 to $300 and the annual shoe allowance from $130 to $180.
- No proposed changes to employee healthcare benefits.
Valuable pay programs & benefits that continue under the contract:
- Shift differentials for evening, overnight and weekend shifts.
- Enhanced overtime pay beyond Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements. Employees earn overtime for hours worked beyond their scheduled shift and after working 40 hours in a defined workweek.
- Supervisor relief pay of an additional $1.10 per hour for bargaining unit employees performing supervisor relief duties.
- On-call compensation, including:
- $4.50 per hour while on standby.
- Time-and-a-half pay if called in to work.
- A $6 fuel stipend when called in to Mount Nittany Medical Center.
- An additional $75 bonus for taking call on one of Mount Nittany Medical Center's eight recognized holidays.
- Bonus shift incentives ranging from an additional $3.44 to $11.87 per hour for eligible bonus shifts.
- Quarterly attendance bonus of $50, available even if an employee does not work any shifts during the quarter (provided attendance requirements are met).
- 75% discount on Mount Nittany Health services.
- Annual wellness incentive of $315.
Continued investments in workplace safety, including:
- Establishing a multidisciplinary task force focused on improving the care and management of behavioral health patients in the Emergency Department.
- Implementing a mass-text emergency notification system for employees.
- Posting workplace violence prevention signage throughout our facilities.
- Announcing and clearing all emergency safety codes (including Red, Amber, Yellow, Silver and Active Shooter) overhead to improve situational awareness.
- Creating a dedicated Security K-9 Unit within the Security Department.
- Expanding employee duress badge technology.
This proposal reflects our commitment to offering competitive pay and benefits while supporting our employees, strengthening our workforce and ensuring we can continue providing exceptional care to the communities we serve.
Negotiations are still underway, and both parties will keep meeting during the strike to work toward an agreement. We’re dedicated to negotiating fairly and finding a solution that supports our staff while ensuring we can continue delivering outstanding care to the communities we serve.
We recognize that these discussions go beyond the details of a contract. They affect our employees, their loved ones, our patients and the vital work happening daily throughout our health system. Keeping our community informed about the progress of negotiations and the proposal we’ve offered is important to us.
Our current proposal reflects our commitment to investing in our people while ensuring we remain a strong, independent health system for the community we serve. Although important topics remain unresolved, we will continue negotiating in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair and sustainable agreement. Thank you for everything you do each day to care for our patients and support one another.
We deeply value our employees and the exceptional care they deliver every day. Our goal is to reach an agreement that reflects their contributions while ensuring we can continue serving patients and planning for the future of healthcare in our area.
We thank our patients and community for their trust. As always, our focus remains on providing safe, compassionate, high-quality care to everyone who seeks our help.