STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WOLF) — Healthcare workers at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Pocono are fed up.

Fed up with what they call low pay and crazy work shifts. Not to mention some say they have to work second and third jobs- just to put food on the table.

As they gather around courthouse square in Stroudsburg with elected officials Saturday- these healthcare workers don't think they're asking for too much.

They want for better benefits and a larger staff- so their patients benefit too. Union President Maddie Lopez Vasquez says some workers are making just over 10 bucks an hour- and they want a minimum of 15.

"It's hard to get by when you can't retire, when you and your coworkers struggle immensely just to make ends meat," Vasquez said.

We also heard today from Stroudsburg Mayor Tarah Probst- who has experience with understaffed hospitals.

"You're overworked, underpaid. There's too much to do. There's too much paperwork. You can't take care of the people you're there to serve," Probst said.

"My mother experienced, being at the time 76 years old, in an emergency room for 17 hours without being able to get anything to eat or drink because they were short staffed," she added.

Workers aren't calling this a protest- but they're here holding signs, as State Representative Maureen Madden supports the workers.

"I'm supposed to choose my words carefully. But Lehigh Valley Pocono has to step up," Madden said.

Statement from Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono:

"We are committed to enhancing access to safe, high-quality care for the communities we serve. The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) recognizes hospitals for quality and patient safety as part of its Excellence in Patient Safety Recognition program. Among the 24 top-performing hospitals recognized in 2019, five are part of LVHN, the most of any health system in Pennsylvania. The five sites listed are: LVH−Cedar Crest in Allentown, LVH−Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, LVH−Hazleton in Hazleton, LVH−Pocono in East Stroudsburg and LVH−Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street.

Additionally, LVHN regularly evaluates the health needs of the community and partners with other sectors and stakeholders to address health related issues in every region we serve. We continue to invest and partner in areas including behavioral health and opioid stewardship, access to care, inclusion and diversity, food insecurity, stable housing, and access to free and low-cost health screenings, such as the Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute’s Mobile Mammography Coach services.

LVHN is committed to providing a competitive total rewards program that recognizes the hard work and talent of our colleagues. As part of that commitment, LVHN routinely performs a market analysis to ensure we are providing competitive compensation and benefits to our colleagues.

We remain committed to hiring qualified people and investing resources to meet the specific needs of each of our regions. In fiscal year 2019 (FY19), we hired 215 colleagues in Hazleton (LVH–Hazleton, LVPG–Hazleton and Health & Wellness Center–Hazleton), 194 colleagues at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill and 379 colleagues at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono."