Labor Unions File Antitrust Complaint Against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

A group of labor unions filed an antitrust complaint against UPMC, the 18th largest hospital chain in the country, on Thursday. The plaintiffs alleged that the health system has prevented its workers from being able to advocate for themselves and their patients through “a draconian system of mobility restrictions and widespread labor law violations that lock in sub-competitive pay and working conditions.” UPMC told MedCity News that it denies these allegations.

Pittsburgh-based UPMC employs 92,000 people, making it the largest private sector employer in Pennsylvania. The health system currently operates 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient facilities, which bring in an annual revenue of $26 billion. Last year, UPMC reported a $916 million loss.

Thursday’s complaint against UPMC was filed by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, a union of healthcare workers and caregivers in the state, and the Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of three labor unions. The unions alleged that UPMC has built a monopsony. This occurs when a company becomes the sole buyer of a good or service in a region, whereas a monopoly refers to one company being the sole producer of a good or service. 

Read the source article at medcitynews.com