by Chambersburg, PA — More than 1,400 nurses and essential workers at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital are preparing to go on strike, citing unsafe staffing levels, stagnant wages, and a lack of local legislative support. The five-day strike, announced Friday by SEIU Healthcare PA, is set to begin on July 22.
Union leaders say the strike is a response to ongoing staffing shortages and what they call uncompetitive pay in an increasingly demanding healthcare environment. “It’s about survival—for the workers and for patient care,” said SEIU spokesperson John Alleman. “We are fighting for the future of this hospital and the people it serves.”
Disputed Wage Offers
At the heart of the dispute is a significant gap in proposed wage increases. The union is asking for a 7.5% raise in 2025, followed by 5% increases over the next two years. WellSpan has countered with a 3.5% raise in 2025, followed by 3% increases—figures workers argue fall far short of meeting rising costs and inflation, which has risen around 24% since 2020.
WellSpan Health, which operates a nine-hospital system across the state, reported more than $3.9 billion in revenue last year, according to Fitch Ratings. Its CEO, Roxanna Gapstur, received over $3 million in compensation in 2024.
Tensions Rise Over Profit vs. Care
Workers say the nonprofit health system has prioritized profits over patients, pointing to the 2023 closure of Chambersburg’s inpatient pediatric facility, which had served over 9,100 children annually.
Longtime employee Bowman, who followed his father into healthcare at the hospital where they were both born, said he’s watched jobs be outsourced and staffing cuts strain the hospital’s ability to deliver care. “We’re losing the heart of our hospital,” he said.
Local Roots, Local Struggles
For staff like Jillian Lira, a unit observation secretary and lifelong Chambersburg resident, the issue is deeply personal. Tearfully, she described the hardship faced by families who now must travel to Hershey or York for pediatric care. “It’s rewarding to work in the community where I live,” said Lira. “But when we’re short-handed, it’s hard to give our neighbors and loved ones the care they deserve.”
Lira and Bowman represent a group of healthcare workers deeply rooted in the community, and who now feel abandoned—not just by their employer, but by elected officials.
Silence from Lawmakers
Despite the strike’s impact on the region’s only hospital, union leaders say local legislators—Sen. Doug Mastriano and Rep. Rob Kauffman, both Republicans—have remained silent. “We’ve heard nothing,” said Alleman, when asked if lawmakers had weighed in or offered to mediate.
A Larger Crisis in Rural Healthcare
The challenges at Chambersburg are part of a broader rural healthcare crisis in Pennsylvania. With an aging population and shrinking workforce, hospitals in underserved areas face mounting difficulties attracting and retaining medical professionals. Strategies such as recruiting local residents have proven effective, but unions argue those efforts must be backed by fair compensation and job protections.
As July 22 approaches, workers remain hopeful for a last-minute agreement—but say they are prepared to walk the picket line to protect the institution that’s long been a pillar of the community.
“This hospital is home for many of us,” said Lira. “We just want to keep it strong—for everyone who depends on it.”
