Pennsylvania
SEIU reaches labor pact with Erie-area nursing home, nine others in Pennsylvania
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Union workers at 10 Pennsylvania long-term care facilities, including one in Millcreek Township, have ratified a new labor deal less than a month after they had scheduled a three-day strike.
Members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania approved the agreement with owner Valley West Health the week of Nov. 7, an SEIU spokeswoman said in an email. Since it was a wage reopener, the agreement dealt with employee pay and the current contract continues to run through the end of 2028.
“We have a lot of work to do to maintain the stability of the industry in Pennsylvania, and we hope to build a relationship with Valley West in the future to retain and recruit the workforce that residents deserve,” Matthew Yarnell, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania president, said in a statement.
The agreement includes “multiple scheduled wage increases,” according to Aharon Franco, vice president of operations for Valley West’s parent organization, Oxford Health.
Oxford Health purchased 10 facilities from Guardian Healthcare in 2024, including Walnut Creek Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, 4850 Zuck Road, and others in Titusville, Oil City, Clarion, Waynesburg, Johnstown, Uniontown, Hastings, Warren and Lewistown.
SEIU voted to hold three-day strike, but negotiated instead
SEIU reached a labor deal with Valley West in 2024 after the company notified SEIU officials that it wouldn’t honor the union’s labor contract with Guardian. The deal included an opportunity to resume negotiations in 2025.
When initial talks yielded no progress and Valley West postponed a second session, SEIU members voted to hold a three-day strike Oct. 14-16 at eight of the facilities and informational picketing at two others. Valley West officials said the 2024 agreement included a “no-strike” clause.
Instead of striking, SEIU Healthcare members agreed to negotiate on Oct. 16. Progress was made and a second session was held.
Union looking for wage hikes to match SEIU members elsewhere
SEIU Healthcare members were seeking an increase in wages that would place them at levels similar to those at other Pennsylvania facilities staffed by SEIU members, who include nurses, nursing aides, housekeepers, and dietary and laundry staff.
“(O)ur guiding priority throughout the process was safeguarding resident care and stabilizing the facilities,” Franco said in an email. “We approached the negotiations with a focus on ensuring that every outcome strengthened the quality of care, protected staffing continuity, and supported the operational turnaround already underway.”
SEIU Healthcare represents about 750 employees at the 10 facilities, including nearly 100 at Walnut Creek.
Contact David Bruce at dbruce@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council recently launched the inaugural Pennsylvania Beef Trail with menu tastings at two highlighted trail stops in Berks County.
Held in May to celebrate Beef Month, the event brought together Pennsylvania Beef Council leadership, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, local restaurant partners, beef producers and community members to celebrate Pennsylvania beef, local food businesses and the culinary creativity found across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Beef Trail highlights restaurants across the state serving standout beef dishes nominated by consumers. Hosted on the Pennsylvania Beef Council website, the trail features an interactive map designed to help Pennsylvanians discover delicious beef dishes by region and plan their own beef-inspired dining experiences.
“The PA Beef Trail is a celebration of everything that makes Pennsylvania beef special: the farmers who raise it, the restaurants that prepare it and the consumers who love it,” Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release.
“Launching the trail during May, which is Beef Month, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the connection between agriculture, local businesses, and the meals that bring people together.”
The celebration featured two stops on the trail: Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown and Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville.
Attendees sampled a variety of featured beef dishes, including pit beef sliders, sausage sandwiches, smoked chuck roast tacos, and Golden Arches flatbread from Saucony Creek Brewing Company, as well as beef pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and The Luther from Deitsch Eck Restaurant.
The launch event also underscored the role of beef in Pennsylvania’s agricultural identity and local economy. By highlighting restaurants that serve creative, consumer-loved beef dishes, the trail encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses while recognizing the farmers and producers behind every plate.
“Pennsylvania beef has a story that stretches from pasture to plate,” Kylie Lusk, director of consumer affairs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release. “The PA Beef Trail gives consumers a fun, interactive way to explore that story while discovering restaurants and dishes they may not have tried before. We’re excited to see people use the trail throughout the year to support local restaurants and celebrate beef across the Commonwealth.”
The inaugural PA Beef Trail features 73 stops across Pennsylvania, showcasing a wide variety of dishes, from burgers and brisket to short rib, oxtail ragu and other creative beef-forward menu items. Organized by region, the trail makes it easy for consumers to find nearby stops or plan a road trip around Pennsylvania’s beef destinations.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council encourages consumers to explore the trail, visit participating restaurants, and share their experiences on social media.
To view the interactive map and explore the full PA Beef Trail, visit www.pabeef.org/pa-beef-trail.
President Trump is visiting the Lehigh Valley next week.
Mr. Trump will speak at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania, Tuesday at 2 p.m. Macungie is roughly 10 miles from Allentown.
Mack Trucks is a 1.7 million square-foot facility in Macungie that assembles heavy-duty trucks for North American and export markets, according to its website.
“Mack Trucks are a symbol of America’s manufacturing strength,” Rep. Dan Meuser said in a Facebook post about Mr. Trump’s upcoming visit to Pennsylvania. “Their Lehigh Valley operations are a pillar of the local economy, employing Pennsylvania workers and driving the nation’s trucking industry.”
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Mr. Trump visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, multiple times. He’s also visitied during his second term.
In December 2025, Mr. Trump said in a speech in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, that he was “crushing” inflation and called affordability concerns a “Democratic hoax.”
One week later, Vice President JD Vance aimed to calm the affordability concerns at a Uline facility in Alburtis, about 13 miles southwest of Allentown.
Tickets are available for Mr. Trump’s visit to Macungie next week on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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