EAST NORRITON, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Nurses at Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton and Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol walked off the job Friday morning.
Their union — the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP), which represents about 200 nurses — has been in contentious contract negotiations with owner Prime Healthcare for months. Contracts at both hospitals expired in October.
Shannan Giambrone, PASNAP secretary, said they were asking for health care, a wage increase, and an increase in staffing. Now, they say it has become a fight over the very existence of the hospitals.
Earlier this week, there were reports that Prime is selling Suburban Community and Lower Bucks hospitals, as well as Roxborough Memorial.
“We offered to sit down with them at the bargaining table every day from the day that we have the strike notice, up until today,” Giambrone said. “They not only declined to give us extra time but they actually canceled a session that was supposed to be yesterday. They said they had to prepare for the strike.”
Prime said the hospitals will stay open and remain fully staffed during the strike with temporary nurses.
A spokesperson said Prime is “disappointed the union has walked away from negotiations and has chosen to strike,” adding that it will not impact patient care.