30 protesters arrested at union demonstration against UPMC wages, labor practices

Organizers say 30 protesters have been arrested during a demonstration for a labor union and higher employee wages at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

UPMC officials haven't commented on Wednesday's events organized by the Service Employees International Union outside UPMC's Pittsburgh headquarters.

The protest was peaceful but snarled downtown Pittsburgh traffic nearby. Union officials say UPMC has retaliated and fired employees who supported unionization.

Earlier, three union janitors, two union officials and a minister were cited for trespassing for refusing to leave UPMC's Aiken Medical Building next to UPMC Shadyside Hospital. They were protesting because UPMC in June hired a company that uses non-union janitors to clean the building.

Pitcairn-based ServiceMaster uses union labor and lost the contract in May.