Jan 31, 2024 By Paul Paterra 4 min read

Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess has thrown his support behind the proposed merger of the Washington Health System and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

During a press conference Tuesday at City Hall, Burgess, a longtime steelworker and veteran political and union activist, cited his union roots as a reason for calling the press conference, stating he wanted to demonstrate support for the employees who would be affected by the merger.

“We know there’s a history with the Washington Health System where they need help,” Burgess said. “They found a willing participant to help them and we don’t want to stand in the way of that. I think it’s good for the community to make sure that we take care of our rural hospitals. We have to support this type of merger because if we don’t, I do believe the Washington Health System will not be here in the coming years. That could be problematic for so many residents.”

Brook Ward, president and CEO of WHS, was present at the press conference. He has maintained that the health system’s mission is to ensure residents of Washington and Greene counties have local access to high-quality health care into the future.

“I’m happy that Mayor Burgess would come out and support the affiliation with UPMC,” Ward said Tuesday. “Securing jobs, securing health care in the community is important for all of us.”

The merger between the two health care organizations was announced in June. The attorney general’s office must approve the deal.

Hospitals have been faced with unprecedented financial challenges due to changes in health care created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This hospital takes care of Washington County, Greene County all the way down to the West Virginia line and some of Fayette County,” Burgess said. “Residents have the convenience of coming to this hospital for world-class care. The merger with UPMC makes it available for residents to continue to have that type of service provided to them. I truly believe that this merger is good not only for the citizens of Washington, but the entire community of Southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Concerns that the merger would result in salary cuts, staff reductions, increased costs for services, reduced quality of patient care and increased wait times have been raised since the merger announcement, prompting a town hall meeting in November attended by about 50 people.

The deal approved by the board includes a 10-year agreement to retain all 2,700 jobs at Washington Hospital and services, including maternity, cardiac surgery and behavioral health.

Burgess said he met with WHS union employees and took their concerns to UPMC and Washington Hospital administration to ensure the workers’ voices were heard. He said he was assured they would be supported.

Over the 10 years of the deal, UPMC has pledged to invest $300 million into WHS.

“How do you say no to that?” Burgess asked. “Why would you say no to that? In talking to Washington Health Systems and their CEO, I understand that things are in place to make sure that everything that is written down is adhered to.”

Greg Bernarding, business manager of the Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council, said the commitment toward upgrades to the hospital is beneficial to the building trades. A number of representatives of various building trades unions were in attendance Tuesday.

“With UPMC doing $300 million in capital improvements, most of their work is union,” he said. “That brings jobs here to Washington County, the city of Washington. It puts all of our workers to work.”

Burgess said he will do what he can from his position as mayor to make sure all promises are kept.

“We’re going to make sure that we watch and follow all the way through the process with UPMC and Washington Health System in this merger over the next 10 years to make sure everything that is said to be done will be done,” Burgess said.

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