MVH and Union Members Agree to Extend Contract

Due to the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 crisis, Monongahela Valley Hospital and United Steelworkers of America Local 8041 have agreed to a one-year extension of their contract. The agreement comes approximately three months before the contract was set to expire on June 30, 2020. Local 8041 represents nearly one-half of the hospital's 1,300 employees including technical staff; nursing assistants; unit clerks; laundry; nutrition and food service; housekeeping; and maintenance personnel. Nurses at Monongahela Valley Hospital are not members of the union.

"Hospital administration and the union both agreed that this was the right decision as we navigate through these challenging times in the delivery of health care to our patients and their families," explained Louis J. Panza Jr., president and CEO of Monongahela Valley Hospital. "We share a common goal - to remain focused on providing the highest level of care to our community.

"We appreciate the willingness by the union members to extend the contract so that we all could do what we do best - take care of our community," Mr. Panza added.

Richard McGinn, a boiler/fireman who serves as president of Local 8041, echoed Mr. Panza's praise for the extension. "We all needed to do what was right for our members, the hospital staff and most importantly our community right now."

Under the extension, the language that governs employees' wages, benefits and working conditions remains unchanged.