It’s been a good few weeks for the workers at UPMC and the people of Pittsburgh.
Since early in 2012, UPMC workers have been courageously standing up for better jobs despite intimidation, threats, and coercion from UPMC executives and managers.
Right before the holidays, their courage paid off. The regional office of the National Labor Relations Board brought a complaint alleging that UPMC executives and management carried out more than 80 violations of workers’ rights.
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The Allegheny County Council on Wednesday patiently listened to taxpayers, teachers, parents, religious leaders, workers, and patients as they shared their stories of how UPMC’s actions affect their lives. We all know that, because it is the region’s largest employer, healthcare system, and tax-exempt charitable organization, what happens at UPMC affects us all.
More than 90 County residents signed up in advance for the Dec. 5 County Council hearing to share their concerns about UPMC’s status as a purely public charity, but the hearing room and overflow seating areas quickly filled to capacity when over 200 members of the community came to show their support.
Rev. David Thornton, pastor of Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church in the Hill District, compared the community and the hospital to the tale of David and Goliath. Rev. Thornton delivered more than 2,000 cards signed by members of the community asking County Council to hold UPMC accountable to respect worker rights, create middle class jobs, and help fund transportation and education.
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The Post-Gazette’s investigation into UPMC’s vast tax-exempt empire struck a nerve with fed up Pittsburghers. In the weeks since the report was published, well over a thousand residents signed a petition to urge the Allegheny County Council to hold a public hearing to look into UPMC’s non-profit status and its role in our community.
Last night, councilman John DeFazio heard the message and offered a motion to hold a public hearing on UPMC’s tax-exempt properties. The council voted unanimously to hold the hearing on December 5th. Continue reading
As UPMC has expanded its real estate empire, it has taken large amounts of taxable property off the tax rolls. That means even tighter budgets for the city, the county and our schools.
So while we’re taking teachers out of classrooms and cutting transit service to the bone, can we really afford to subsidize UPMC’s seven-figure executive paychecks and land buying binges?
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A recent four part expose in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette took a close look at UPMC’s real estate dealings and some of its questionable uses of our health care dollars.
UPMC has spent the last thirty years buying up major area hospitals and used its vast wealth and purchasing power to corner huge swaths of land at exorbitant prices. It is estimated that UPMC holds a staggering $2.5 billion in property with 80 percent tax-exempt. Continue reading
UPMC recently announced that its revenue grew 10% last year to top $10 billion for the year. It also reported that it has $3.7 billion in its reserve fund.
That’s a lot of money, but apparently UPMC management had hoped for more, citing a “challenging environment” as the reason the non-profit health system earned only $351 million in operating profits.
As UPMC employees, we understand what it’s like to work and live in a challenging environment. While UPMC makes millions, many of us still don’t bring home a family sustaining wage. And while UPMC’s executives complain about the size of their surplus, our city just doesn’t have enough. We’re laying off teachers, shutting down bus routes, and dismantling community programs and activities that keep our kids learning and safe.
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UPMC already benefits from $204 million in tax breaks, but for UPMC executives, that’s not enough.
After failing to get Allegheny County to approve a tax exempt bond deal last year, UPMC took its request to the newly formed Monroeville Finance Authority. In July, the Authority voted to issue $420 million in bonds to UPMC – in effect giving them another $2.3 million annual tax break.
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The Pittsburgh City Paper attended last month’s meeting of UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside Board of Directors to talk to some UPMC workers who face intimidation at work for trying to form a union.
Chaney Lewis, an employee of UPMC Presbyterian
“All I want to do is exercise my right as a citizen to talk to my co-workers about the option of forming a union. If the union comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, well that’s all right, too. But please, let’s just play fairly.”
UPMC could have given every single one of it’s 55,000 employees a $6,000 raise last year and still had $100 million in profits left over.
UPMC employees Teri Collins and Kathy Cabbagestalk testify at Pittsburgh City Council about UPMC’s low wages and management’s intimidation of employees trying to improve their jobs by forming a union.