Two Weeks Later, Temple Nurses In Good Spirits
Two weeks after walking out of work, the 1,500 Temple University Hospital nurses and technicians are in good spirits manning the picket line and demanding that hospital officials sit down to the table and bargain in good faith.
"I feel good because we are united fighting and we all will be here until we get a decent contract," said Sabrina Nixon, a medical technologist who has worked for TUH for 22 years.
The two-week landmark comes just a couple of days short of payday Friday, one that will only bring in a few dollars worth a couple days' work. But this doesn't seem to trouble Nixon, who said she planned ahead in light of what was in store for her and all of her unionized colleagues. "I knew this was coming and that's why I saved money and got a part time job in June so I could have some income," she said. The strike, Nixon added, "is not about the money but about fighting for a good contract."
The 1,500 health care professionals—members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP)—had been working without a contract since October 2009 and hit the picket line on March 31 after months of failed negotiations. At the heart of the conflict are two clauses included in TUH best and final offer: eliminating the longstanding benefit of free tuition for employees' children and "non-disparagement" language in their contracts which would impede PASNAP members from openly criticize the hospital or its officials. "This has nothing to do with the money. We want to keep the benefits that we have," said Susan Todd, a registered nurse working for TUH.
Without mentioning specifics, Temple Hospital management insists it has been negotiating in good faith with PASNAP for the past nine months. "We have reached agreements on a variety of issues," said Rebecca Harmon, TUH spokeswoman. "At this time, however, we remain far apart on several key economic issues."
But the agreement on those key economic issues seems distant, and in the meantime 850 out of town replacements have made their way to Philadelphia to take over the duties of those demanding a better contract. Harmon wouldn't specify as to how much they're paying these replacements but a flyer circulating online from a company called HealthSource Global Staffing shows the temporary workers were offered up to $10,338 per week to work during the strike.
"They are acting the way I expected," said Maureen May, who has been with TUH for 26 years and is also president of the nurses union. "They want to break us. But they never believed we could stay united." She said that the picket line has four shifts with up to 30 people manning it during each stint. But that figure does not include the support other organizations have provided. Last Thursday, members of the Media Mobilizing Project, the Philadelphia Student Union and Taxi Workers Alliance of Pennsylvania joined the picket line. "I'm here today because they want to take the nurses' capability to speak out," said Justin Carter, 17, a PSU member from West Philly High. "As a teenager, as a student I have experienced this and I'm tired they're trying to get our voices silenced."
Harmon didn't produce an answer when asked if the non-disparagement could be an infringement on the nurses First Amendment rights. But this sole issue has drawn criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. Earlier this week, Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, told the Chicago Tribune that TUH is "simply dressing up a gag order in fancy clothes."
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Letters to the Editor
1. superman said... on Apr 13, 2010 at 11:22PM
“doesnt anybody know jimmy hoffa is dead, the first contract is always the best offer your union reps with any history should know that. i was a teamster for 15 years and i saw it all. ask your buss.agents how much they are being paid while your not? its all about the money. they talk a good game . your eating burgers and dogs and your union big wigs are laughting all the way to the bank.”
2. JimCRNFA said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 09:59AM
“Our paid staffers are hardly the same as the highly paid union reps of the corrupt 50s. Our leaders are the members who are out on the lines with the general membership. This strike is for patient advocacy, safety and working conditions. The economics are always at issue but are very negotiable, if Temple would negotiate. They continue to call us greedy but for the Hospital CEO to be paid over $500K, the health system president, Notebeardt, to be paid over $2M and the University President to receive over $600K, a downtown condo, car and $75K in expense money as compensation. These are among the highest salaries of university and health care executives in the nation not to mention at a public non-profit institution. Your tax dollars are paying these ridiculous salaries. The “gag clause” is a direct assault on our first amendment rights and isn’t that ironic in the city where it was written and ratified by the founding fathers of this free nation! Temple continues to try to diminish the importance of the clause by separating the union and the leadership form the members. The MEMBERS are the UNION! We will remain strong and prevail against this oppressive assault on our professional standards and constitutional rights.”
3. Anonymous said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 10:20AM
“All we are asking for (union members) is a maintenance of contractual and grandfathered promises made by TUHS to its employees. We are not greedy people. We are healthcare professionals working in the toughest environment in the city of Philadelphia. What drew us to Temple in the first place was the knowledge that we can earn a decent living by catering to an underserved, often very sick, population.”
4. Anonymous said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 01:46PM
“The union members just want a fair contract. We expected to negotiate. When administration comes in and says this is your one and only contract, i don't call that negotiating. When we see administration paying excess money three and four times what it would take to settle sends us a message that in hard times we aren't important enough. We helped make Temple University Hospital what it is by bringing our experience and hearts to an underserved population of peoples with complex health issues because we cared. Now that they are doing well they want to discard us like used clothes. Where are the professional creeds we all took including administration. The big banks and investment companies did this to their employees. Now the hospitals are doing it to us. Talking around a table explaining issues and hearing from your people is what makes this a better place. We have to give and take, but are not being excluded.”
5. Katy said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 02:35PM
“If Temple isn't going to negotiate with its workers, then maybe it's time people go elsewhere for care. Temple cites that they disagree with workers on "several key economic issues", but then pays outside workers thousands of dollars to replace striking workers. It just doesn't add up. These workers deserve to advocate on behalf of their patients (something Temple believes should not be a right). I don't know about you, but I want my nurse to be able to voice her concerns, if she's not allowed to, then I'm not going to that death trap for care. No thank you!”
6. Dawn said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 04:16PM
“I agree with Jim. Temple has squandered public funds just to try to crush the caring staff who literaly are the frontline care givers of Temple. Temple has not bargained in good faith for the last year. If you call leaving members who are not being paid to sit in an a banquet room for five hours while the Administration enjoys their "paid" lunch. That is not bargaining in good faith. That is rude and demoralizing, something Temple Administration is very good at. Temple has even found a way to factor in the nurse executive salary with the "average Nurse'ssalary" in order to inflate what we really do make on their propaganda campaign.”
7. Anonymous said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 08:01PM
“HR Harmon lies ust like the rest of Temple administration. They wouldn't even come to the negotiation table, so for her to say they have been in fiar negotiations for the last 9 months is a down right lie. That is the same way Temple states that patients care has not been compromised. How many MORE will die because of UNQUALIFIED scab”
8. JimCRNFA said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 09:12PM
“Ps. superman (really....?)
Are your sure Jimmy Hoffa is dead? I don't think his body has ever been found.”
9. An observer said... on Apr 14, 2010 at 10:00PM
“Katy, it doesn't add up. Temple isn't concerned with $ - the hospital has been making hefty profits, even though it's non-profit. Neither is Temple all that concerned with patient safety. If it were, it would have significantly scaled down operations, transferred high risk patients, and gotten back to the negotiation table. That's why nursing unions give 10-day strike notices - Temple nurses actually gave a 12-day notice. It has become very clear that Temple's only objective is to break the union no matter what it costs - both in dollars & in quality of care. If Temple gets what they want - breaking the union & gagging the nurses - I wouldn't want to go there there either. If the nurses can hold out & win this battle, I have to believe that Temple's health care standards will only improve & I will feel confident that I'm going to get the care I need from a staff of nurses who aren't overworked, are properly staffed, and can be honest with me about my concerns. Nurses Stay Strong!”
10. Anonymous said... on Apr 15, 2010 at 05:44AM
“How do I sign up to be a scab? I want 10grand a week. Scabs win!
”
11. ultrasound technologist said... on Apr 15, 2010 at 08:23AM
“We (professional staff and nurses) are asking for a fair contract. They pulled out this BS contract cutting wages and benefits, of course we were going to fight back. I'm pretty sure if we would have taken this contract, administration would have received huge bonuses. Temple administrators are taking advantage of an economic crisis so they can come out on top. When Sandy Gomberg said "we are all taking a pay freeze", I couldn't help but choke on that BS. Temple is not offering a pay freeze, they are offering pay cuts. I don't know of anyone who will sit back and say nothing when receiving a pay cut. We are the professionals who care for the patients not administration; and for them to even use the words"patient care" is a smack in my face. Our department was working with 4 full-time employees before the strike; and they hired 8 scabs in place of us; paying them more than double our salary. Just another smack in the face. We (PASNAP) need to stay strong in our fight for justice.”
12. nancy said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 07:30PM
“Hey anonymous,guess what you have to do to get the $10k ? You have to work 16 hour days 5 days a week. Good luck with that.As far as scabs winning . I think not . They are weakening every day as we the union members of PASNAP get even stronger. To my sisters and brothers on the picket line stay strong and stay united.UNION POWER!!!!”
13. Anonymous said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 08:05PM
“Is it true they are asking for a 14% pay increase?”
14. andi35 said... on Apr 16, 2010 at 10:31PM
“That is over a 4 year period”
15. Anonymous said... on Apr 17, 2010 at 10:45AM
“And I believe the raise is negotiable!! The problem remains that Temple simply will not negotiate, with its high paid execs seemingly comfortable in their positions and the tax payer money they seem to feel they can squander, I cannot believe there is not more public outcry. This strike has logically cost more than settling a negotiated agreement would have.Temple administration has all but said via their actions that they simply will not deal with this union any longer. This is not fair labor practice, it is not in the tax payers' best interest for this to continue, nor is it best for the University's and hospital's reputations, and it most certainly is not in the best interest of patients for us to repeatedly hear no negotiations, not even over the raised safety issues have really been held. Shame on the hospital's administration for not at least tackling those issues and fixing things that they should morally and ethically want made better...profit before patients is reprehensible”
16. Anonymous said... on Apr 17, 2010 at 03:18PM
“The true definition of scab is a UNION MEMBER that crosses the line... NOT replacements! We are here so YOU can be on the picket line. Do you REALLY think the hospital would close... lets be real. You need us to be here so you can do what you need to do. Don't vent your anger towards us. We are just here to do our jobs. And... by the way.... the 10k is for CRNA's. They really don't pay us even CLOSE to that!!!!!”
17. Anonymous said... on Apr 18, 2010 at 04:47PM
“To poster #16-
The problem is that Temple should have diverted all Trauma, stopped any surgery that was non-emergency and negotiated, that is the spirit of the 10 day notice, a chance to drop down to minimal care status and figure things out, but as usual, in its arrogance, Temple knows better. The other problem is that more than one Temple nurse was recruited by the incompetent agency you all work for, I personally heard one being offered double what he makes to take his own job...LOL. Also...go to the message boards for strike workers...you and the person next to you may not be making the same wage...they are unscrupulous at best. The final issue, if you all did not exist (we can all agree that the patients need you) Temple would have to get off its high horse and negotiate, fix safety and health risk issues, and work this out. Your existence impedes that progress...so, I am afraid that the anger while perhaps a bit too vehement is at least in part rightfully directed at you all.”
18. Minnesota said... on Apr 18, 2010 at 10:46PM
“Hang it there nurses, it can't go on forever since there are 12,000 nurses that may be going on strike soon (but i wish that weren't true). We might be stealing all of your scabs, but would rather you keep them.”
19. Anonymous said... on Apr 20, 2010 at 10:25AM
“Lack of respect, it's a disgrace and very disppointing to see what Temple has done to it's commited and dedicated staff! Not only that but what about the community that surrounds Temple Hospital. Disrepect, discouraged and very disheartened, SHAME ON TEMPLE :(”
20. andi35 said... on Apr 21, 2010 at 07:35AM
“Very well said #17. I am truly hoping clearer heads will prevail and all those who made these very stupid decisions will be gone hopefully soon.”
21. mopie said... on Apr 21, 2010 at 01:22PM
“As we are going into the 4th week of the strike, I can't imagine why all taxpayers of this state are not up yelling for their wasted money on out of town-ers with no interest in our economy. They come in here, take our tax money, and go back to where ever they came back for. In the meantime, everybody is bashing the professionals of PASNAP for taking a stand for our patients. Does nobody see through the cracks of Temple's PR. They are a mile wide. One day they say one thing, the next another. They say they deliver good care, yet we see everyday the evidence of that not being so. Come on, patients escaping the hospital out of the ICU, and the Telemetry unit, begging the people on the picket line not to be taken back in. Didn't the alarms of the monitors go off when that patient left the bedside and made it all the way down to the sidewalk? These are not stories, they are documented with the department of health.”
22. SF Bay Area said... on Apr 22, 2010 at 12:35PM
“Hang in there Temple Nurses! You're fighting for yourselves, your families, your patients and your community. Nurses protect lives while administrators protect portfolios. You are righteous!”
23. John said... on Apr 26, 2010 at 10:22PM
“The patients are being hurt by Temple and Temple's desire to "GAG" the nurses. The benefits offered are important but Temple needs to rethink what they are doing for their patients, the nurses, the residents of Philadelphia, and the overall situation affecting healthcare. The "GAG" clause is unethical, immoral, and quite possibly illegal.
”