Judge halts hiring of Hershey nurses

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1204945818176780.xml&coll=1

Saturday, March 08, 2008
BY DAVID WENNER
Of The Patriot-News

A federal judge has ordered Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center to stop hiring nurses for a new inpatient psychiatric facility scheduled to open in Harrisburg in three weeks.

The new facility is a collaboration between the Hershey Medical Center and PinnacleHealth System. Called the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, it would have 74 beds and be located at the former Polyclinic Hospital.

Officials said it will be nonunion, although nurses at Hershey Medical Center and Pinnacle are invited to apply. Most Pinnacle nurses are nonunion.

The temporary restraining order followed a request from the Service Employees International Union, which represents nurses at Hershey Medical Center. The union has lodged a challenge in federal court, arguing the new facility is a "successor" to the unionized one, and must abide by contract terms.

Chief Judge Yvette Kane of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania called that argument "sufficiently meritorious" in her temporary restraining order.

Kane scheduled a hearing on the SEIU's request for a preliminary injunction at 9:30 a.m. March 17 in Harrisburg. If the injunction is granted, the new facility wouldn't be allowed to open until the dispute is resolved.

FULL story at link.