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KINGSTON — Service and technical workers at First Hospital of Wyoming Valley in Kingston will strike Friday, according to the union’s Facebook page.

SEIU Healthcare, which represents more than 240 workers at the hospital, posted this morning that workers will strike from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The strike is part of a fight for safe working conditions for “healthcare workers and their patients and better care,” according to the post.

“Workers at First Hospital of Wyoming Valley are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic and safety is a constant concern. For over a year, workers have been trying to improve conditions and care inside their hospital, but management will not address their concerns,” the post reads.

Service and technical employees have been working without a contract since their most recent one expired in October 2016.

The union also represents nurses at the hospital, but the nurses’ contract does not expire until the end of the year.

A statement from Commonwealth Health, which owns and operates the Kingston psychiatric site, says the hospital is prepared for the strike.

“The SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, CTW, CLC has served a notice of its intent to conduct a strike, picketing and other concerted refusal to work activity commencing at 8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, and ending Saturday, Oct. 21, at 8 a.m..” the statement reads.

“A contingency operations plan will be implemented, in the event the strike does occur, to ensure continuation of quality services. As always, our top priority is the care and safety of our patients, employees and visitors wherever such activity may occur.”

A rally will be held at noon Friday and a candlelight vigil is planned for 6 p.m.

Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_TTL061617firsthospital1-cmyk-4.jpg.optimal.jpgAimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Joe Soprano

[email protected]

Reach Joe Soprano at 570-991-6393 or on Twitter @jsoprano.