“Unconscionable” Bernie Sanders Rips Geisinger Over Nurse Health Benefits in Viral Tweet

The nurses at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center just got a major boost in their fight for fair wages and benefits—this time from a senator with a history of calling out corporate giants.

Senator Bernie Sanders took to social media last week, making it clear where he stands on the contract dispute between Geisinger and its unionized nursing staff.

“It is unconscionable that Geisinger nurses are not guaranteed quality health care by their employer,” Sanders wrote. “Geisinger: Do the right thing. Get back to the table and give your nurses the same quality of care that they provide to patients.”

His post, originally shared on X and later on Facebook, has already racked up more than 12,000 reactions and nearly 600 comments—a sign that this issue is striking a nerve far beyond Pennsylvania.

Beyond the Likes and Shares

But Sanders’ support isn’t just digital. The senator has also met privately over Zoom with the nurses’ contract bargaining team, joining a growing list of elected officials who have spoken with the union in recent weeks.

“Republicans, independents, and Democrats have walked the picket line with us and publicly expressed their support,” said Kelly Loiselle, a pediatric nurse at Geisinger Wyoming Valley. “This is just the beginning of our massive campaign to hold Geisinger and Kaiser-Risant accountable.”

Loiselle and her colleagues have been locked in negotiations with Geisinger since November. Their frustration boiled over in February, when they walked off the job for a five-day strike. Now, they’re making it clear: another strike is on the table if things don’t change.

The Cost of Care—For Nurses Themselves

One of the union’s biggest complaints? Skyrocketing healthcare costs—at a hospital that owns its own insurance company.

“Geisinger has raised health care costs for nurses by 38% over the past two years,” Loiselle said. “That has left many nurses who provide care for our community unable to afford that same care for ourselves and our children.”

Loiselle also raised concerns about staffing shortages, saying Geisinger Wyoming Valley has a nurse vacancy rate three times the national average and over 300 unfilled positions.

Instead of addressing the crisis, she claims the hospital has turned to expensive travel nurses who cost the hospital more than staff. 

“Geisinger is losing its commitment to locally based care,” she warned.

Geisinger’s Response

Following Sanders’ post, Geisinger issued a statement standing by its position.

The hospital system acknowledged the contract dispute but stressed that its negotiations are independent of Risant Health, the Kaiser-backed entity that acquired Geisinger last year.

“Our offers have been comprehensive, competitive, and sustainable,” Geisinger’s statement read. “They reflect a significant increase from the compensation and benefits package that SEIU agreed to and celebrated as historic in 2022.”

While Geisinger insists it values its nurses, union members say the numbers tell a different story.

“While nurses, our families, and our community struggle, Geisinger and Kaiser-Risant have been paying their executives millions,” Loiselle said.

What’s Next?

With a second strike looming, national media attention growing, and a senator with a microphone weighing in, Geisinger nurses aren’t backing down anytime soon.

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