National Nurses United

NewsBriefs.REV_April 5/8/10 2:31 PM Page 7 Temple Strike Leads to Victory PENNSYLVANIA H ealthcare workers at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia ratified a new contract April 28 after an energetic 28-day strike that beat back the medical center's attempts to break their union. The new agreement for nurses and other health professionals provides wage increases that will keep pay competitive with other area hospitals and partially restores a popular tuition reimbursement benefit that the hospital had tried to unilaterally eliminate. Temple also withdrew its proposal to prevent employees from speaking out publicly about patient care problems at the hospital and compromised on changes to health benefits. "Temple underestimated the strength of our membership," said Maureen May, RN, president of the nurses' union. "Their plan to weaken us did not work.  Instead, we became more united in this strike, and we will return to work with a great amount of pride in what we achieved." The 1000 RNs and 500 other health professionals, represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, struck March 31 after working without a contract for six months. Workers kept the pressure on management all month long with rallies and solidarity campaigns that forced the hospital back to the negotiating table. Spirited, raucous picket lines in front of the hospital each day inspired passers-by to honk their horns, community supporters to bring water and pretzels, and other labor unions to pledge their solidarity. Hundreds of APRIL 2010 strikers and supporters protested in front of the luxury condo of University President Ann Weaver Hart April 3, chanting "Ann Hart, you can't hide, we can see your greedy side!" Administration, meanwhile, engaged 850 replacement workers at rates of up to $10,000 per week plus meals and accommodations— spending as much in the first two weeks of the strike as it would have cost to meet PASNAP's demands, the union estimates. With Temple demanding to eliminate contract language making the hospital a union shop, reserve the right to make further changes to health benefits without bargaining, and separate contract expiration dates for RNs and technical staff—which are represented by different locals—the strike became a referendum on the union's very existence, PASNAP leaders say. The hospital drew negative media attention early in negotiations for its proposed nondisparagement clause, which would have imposed fines and discipline on the union, its staff and members who said anything negative about Temple in any public forum. During negotiations about the clause, Bob Birnbrauer, Vice President of Human Resources, told hospital workers, "If you want your constitutional rights, you need to go somewhere else." Union members said they refused to be silenced. "We are patient advocates, first, foremost, and always," Carol Heyward, RN, a Temple graduate and 23-year employee, said from the picket line during the strike's third week. The final contract, overwhelmingly ratified by a vote of 1045 to 30, did not contain the gag rule or other proposals PASNAP leaders had criticized as designed to weaken the union. Union members' dependents will be W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G eligible for up to six credits per semester of tuition reimbursement, effectively a 50 percent discount on tuition, which the Pennsylvania Associahospital also extendtion of Staff Nurses ed to employees not and Allied Professionrepresented by als President Patricia PASNAP in the afterEakin, RN addresses math of the strike. a rally of striking On healthcare, a Temple University major sticking point Hospital workers. in negotiations, RNs and professional employees will be eligible for three different plans, paying between 10 and 25 percent of the premium depending on their plan choice. The union will retain the right to bargain any changes to plans and cost increases will be delayed to give workers time to budget for them. The strike enjoyed widespread support from organized labor and the university community. National Nurses United and its affiliates from Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois sent solidarity and staff. Philadelphia firefighters' union president Billy Gault visited the picket line, telling nurses, "Your strike is our strike," along with police union president John McNesby, who described the quality care his members have received from the hospital's union workers. Temple University students collected 1,900 signatures on a petition to university president Hart and passed a resolution of support through the student senate. High school students from the Philadelphia Student Union also walked the picket line. "We support the Temple nurses. There are many groups across the city fighting different struggles and we need to support each other," explained Gregory Jordan-Detamore, a senior at Masterman High School. PASNAP members also worked to educate local and state elected officials about their fight. Strikers filled the weekly city council meeting to capacity on the second week of the strike, and councilmembers ultimately passed a resolution calling on both sides to negotiate in good faith. "We were able to win because our members were well-informed of the issues all along the way," said PASNAP President Patricia Eakin, RN. "The organized and active picket line was crucial in keeping everyone connected, and the solidarity we got from NNU and other unions helped keep people's morale up until the end. Our victory shows that you can win if you stick together." —Marty Harrison, RN N AT I O N A L N U R S E 7

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