http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2010/03/29/daily18.html
Philadelphia Business Journal - by John George Staff Writer
Striking Temple University Hospital nurses, technicians and other professional staff members took to the picket lines Wednesday morning as the union's strike against the North Philadelphia medical center began at 7 a.m.
The hospital will stay open, an official said: Doctors and employees not represented by the union remain on the job, and the hospital is bringing in some replacement workers.
About two dozen members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals were picketing in front of the main hospital entrance at Broad Street and Ontario Avenue chanting "No contract, no work" and "What do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now."
Dozens of other union members took positions at other entrances to the 746-bed medical center.
PASNAP represents about 1,500 workers at Temple University Hospital.
Union members have been working without a contract since September. PASNAP officials have accused Temple of "bad faith bargaining" and said the strike was over issues including wages, staffing levels and a so-called gag clause that they say prevents union members from speaking publicly about the hospital.
"Despite good faith negotiations on the part of the union that represents the nurses and professionals at Temple, administrators have clung to their unreasonable 'best and final offer,'" said Maureen May, a registered nurse and president of the nurses union at Temple. "The nurses and other professional staff voted to strike and are determined to do all that is necessary to convince Temple administrators that their hard line stance is bad for the hospital, bad for employees and most of all, bad for our patients."
Sandra L. Gomberg, interim executive director and CEO of Temple University Hospital, said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the medical center has replacement workers for the striking PASNAP members.
"Temple will continue to provide uninterrupted quality care in all clinical areas through the strike," Gomberg said, noting all care will continue to be directed by the hospital's 400 physicians. In addition, she said, the hospital will continue to be staffed by 3,000 workers who are not part of PASNAP. Gomberg said the two sides remain far apart on wages.
She said the hospital's "last, best" offer — rejected by the union Monday night — called for no increase for the nurses in the first year of a four-year deal, followed by annual increases of 2, 2 and 2.5 percent. Gomberg said the union is seeking increases of 3, 3.5, 4 and 4 percent over the four years.
According to Gomberg, Temple nurses earn on average $39.80 an hour, which she said is among the highest rates in the city. She said the union's demands don't reflect the current economic environment.
Gomberg also took issue with the union's description of the "gag clause," which she said applies only to union officials who have repeatedly made disparaging comments about the hospital during the contract negotiation process.
Temple University Hospital officials Thursday morning invited its striking employees to return to work, under the terms of the medical center's last offer.
"We will also continue to make ourselves available to meet with union officials in order to achieve a ratified agreement and be able to put this labor dispute behind us," said Gomberg.
Philadelphia Business Journal - by John George Staff Writer
Striking Temple University Hospital nurses, technicians and other professional staff members took to the picket lines Wednesday morning as the union's strike against the North Philadelphia medical center began at 7 a.m.
The hospital will stay open, an official said: Doctors and employees not represented by the union remain on the job, and the hospital is bringing in some replacement workers.
About two dozen members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals were picketing in front of the main hospital entrance at Broad Street and Ontario Avenue chanting "No contract, no work" and "What do we want? A contract. When do we want it? Now."
Dozens of other union members took positions at other entrances to the 746-bed medical center.
PASNAP represents about 1,500 workers at Temple University Hospital.
Union members have been working without a contract since September. PASNAP officials have accused Temple of "bad faith bargaining" and said the strike was over issues including wages, staffing levels and a so-called gag clause that they say prevents union members from speaking publicly about the hospital.
"Despite good faith negotiations on the part of the union that represents the nurses and professionals at Temple, administrators have clung to their unreasonable 'best and final offer,'" said Maureen May, a registered nurse and president of the nurses union at Temple. "The nurses and other professional staff voted to strike and are determined to do all that is necessary to convince Temple administrators that their hard line stance is bad for the hospital, bad for employees and most of all, bad for our patients."
Sandra L. Gomberg, interim executive director and CEO of Temple University Hospital, said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the medical center has replacement workers for the striking PASNAP members.
"Temple will continue to provide uninterrupted quality care in all clinical areas through the strike," Gomberg said, noting all care will continue to be directed by the hospital's 400 physicians. In addition, she said, the hospital will continue to be staffed by 3,000 workers who are not part of PASNAP. Gomberg said the two sides remain far apart on wages.
She said the hospital's "last, best" offer — rejected by the union Monday night — called for no increase for the nurses in the first year of a four-year deal, followed by annual increases of 2, 2 and 2.5 percent. Gomberg said the union is seeking increases of 3, 3.5, 4 and 4 percent over the four years.
According to Gomberg, Temple nurses earn on average $39.80 an hour, which she said is among the highest rates in the city. She said the union's demands don't reflect the current economic environment.
Gomberg also took issue with the union's description of the "gag clause," which she said applies only to union officials who have repeatedly made disparaging comments about the hospital during the contract negotiation process.
Temple University Hospital officials Thursday morning invited its striking employees to return to work, under the terms of the medical center's last offer.
"We will also continue to make ourselves available to meet with union officials in order to achieve a ratified agreement and be able to put this labor dispute behind us," said Gomberg.
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