PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Temple University Hospital nurses held what they called a staffing crisis rally on Friday outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Center City.
The two nurses' unions, currently in contract negotiations with the hospital, say the lack of proper staffing at their hospitals is one of their most pressing issues. Earlier this week, they authorized a strike if a deal cannot be reached.
Registered nurse Maryann Holsworth, membership chair of the Temple University Hospital Nurses Association (TUHNA), said the issue of safe staffing isn't just a labor issue, but a public health issue.
"The ratios in the hospital are just untenable," said Holsworth.
"At this point, good quality patient care is not being delivered. They refuse to pay us our value, and they're attempting to transfer the maternity [unit] out of North Philly, and that is the absolute exploitation of the weakest of our community."
Temple University Hospital announced in November the purchase of a building on East Wyoming Avenue. They plan to convert it into a women's health center, with expanded maternity care.
TUHNA President Mary Adamson said amid stalled contract negotiations this week, union members voted to authorize a strike.
"In order to strike, we have to give the hospital a 10-day notice," Adamson said. "We're hoping to give them a couple more chances to capitulate and give us what we deserve."
Holsworth said the strike tactic would be used as a last resort.
A sign held by a participant in a march for Temple University Hospital workers in support of their demands during contract negotiations. Their rally was held outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday.Hadas Kuznits/KYW Newsradio
"We are scheduled to negotiate four times next week with all of the best of hope for these things," said Holsworth. "We don't want to strike, we're getting forced into a situation."
Adamson said what nurses deserve are proper working conditions and a living wage.
"They made $231 million last year, and they made it by short-staffing from the loading dock to the IT desk," said Adamson, as her colleagues marched outside the convention center where the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet conference is taking place.
She said the nurses there helped the hospital achieve Magnet status in 2019, something Temple Health called "the highest honor a health care organization can receive for nursing excellence," one that only 8% of hospitals receive.
"And as soon as they got this designation, they took the staff away," Adamson said.
Now, as part of their seemingly stalled contract negotiations, Adamson said nurses want a contract that includes safe-staffing language.
"It's a very reasonable ask," she said.
"We also want a wage increase that is commensurate with the massive amount of work we've done in the last three years being the hospital with the most COVID patients in Philadelphia."
Picketers in support of Temple University Hospital nursing union members in labor negotiations with the hospital.Hadas Kuznits/KYW Newsradio
The following is a full statement from Temple Health:
