Local nurses and members of the Service Employees International Union 1199P (SEIU) gathered yesterday outside the Mount Nittany Medical Center to address the issue of mandatory overtime.

The news conference, held at the top of Hospital Drive, was organized by the SEIU and was part of a statewide campaign to pass legislation banning the use of mandatory overtime. The Safe Staffing Quality Care Act plans to "create a safe patient to nurse ratio in all hospitals," said Sandie Hansen, a certified nursing assistant at the University Park Nursing Center.

Michael Stepp, campaign coordinator with the union, said the statewide traveling campaign for legislation banning mandatory overtime would visit 12 cities before culminating with a rally in Harrisburg on Oct. 5.

Stepp said the rally would begin with a mile-long march from the Crowne Plaza Hotel to the Statehouse. He said he expects 200 to 300 representatives from unions all over the state to attend. Stepp added the bill is currently in committee with the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The campaign, which began in Harrisburg two weeks ago, made use of a pick-up truck turned "Ban Wagon" by providing visual aids encouraging people to contact state legislators in hopes of banning the use of mandatory overtime.

"Forced overtime puts us all at risk," Hansen said. "We'd like to ban [it] with the help of our state senators."

Cindy Rusnak, vice president of the local chapter of SEIU and a registered nurse, said that of the handful of people at the conference yesterday, most worked at the medical center.

"We feel it's important to start with our home. [We] need to get it done at home," Rusnak said.

Hansen said that the SEIU made flyers complete with the state representatives' phone numbers. She added that SEIU members plan to go door to door to inform people in the community of the issues and ask for local support.

The SEIU 1199P had recent experience in dealing with issues involving mandatory overtime. Contract negotiations between union members employed by the hospital and the hospital administration resulted in a five-day strike last July when an agreement could not be reached over a key issue of mandatory overtime.

Rusnak said the agreement reached was a step in the right direction.

"Back in July, we got a few more stipulations, but mandatory overtime is still happening," Rusnak said. "It wouldn't happen if scheduling was done properly."

Rusnak said she hadn't worked at the medical center since Sept. 1 because of the continuing political campaign. She added that the new "contract language protects us somewhat, but not nearly enough."

Hansen said mandatory overtime is a big issue with all health care workers because in some cases, the overtime could be a full shift, ultimately forcing an employee to work a total of 16 hours. This results in unsafe conditions for patients and employees, Hansen said.

"I've worked mandatory overtime, and I'm not as young as I used to be," Hansen said. "I need to be home after work to care for my husband."

Clara Rimmey, a registered nurse at the medical center, said the new contract helped cut down on the number of mandatory overtime hours in the nursing department.

"It is still happening, but not as often," she said.

Rimmey said she decided to join the campaign effort because mandatory overtime is still a problem statewide.

"It's still a major issue across the state, even though we got language [in the contract] to help us," she said.

"We need a ban and we need it now," Rusnak added.