Einstein Medical Center’s nurses and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, both in Philadelphia, have not reached new agreements with their parents’ health groups, according to a November 5 PASNAP release.
The Einstein Healthcare Network owns Einstein Medical Center, while St Christopher Hospital for Children is owned by Tower Health of Drexel University College Medical F Medical.
Nurses are primarily surprised because they feel they have been pushed to the edge by unsafe personnel who are seriously endangering patient safety, according to the release.
Passnap representative nurses have officially given a 10-day strike notice to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Bucks County and Mercy Fitzgerald Medical Center in Delaware County, but are preparing to reach both agreements, a Pasnap spokesperson said.
If both hospitals reach an agreement, it will prevent an additional 1,000 nurses from going on strike.
“Frontline nurses at four Philadelphia-area hospitals have taken steps to strike to protect their patients and themselves, in the wake of another deadly wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.” “Nurses from all four hospitals are seeking a commitment to secure at least safe levels of staff.”
Maria Plano, a registered nurse at St. Christopher’s, who is also vice president of the hospital’s Nurses United Union, told CNN on Wednesday that staff at her hospital are “number one issue.”
“We are in an era of hedgecare, being run by hedge fund groups.” “They don’t care as long as they make them profitable or how long they last. They don’t invest in these hospitals.”
Plano said the leadership at Drexel University College of Medicine Medicine Tower Health, which owns St. Christopher, would not sit down with the union of nurses to discuss the status of the contract.
“The VP of the (Tower Health) union just met with us because we asked,” he said. “The head of the tower, the HR guy, had to stay on the phone and say he couldn’t answer our questions without HR’s approval. It’s really frustrating – they bought this hospital and honestly, I think they’re less about it than keeping it profitable. Will take care.For them, I say, ‘shame on you.’ “
St. Christopher’s nurses voted overwhelmingly for the strike, but the union has not yet notified the required 10-day strike because it still wants to communicate with Tower Health.
He said the group, which bought the hospital in December 2019, has closed one of its two structures already allocated to less sick patients and is evacuating staff who need to be available to children who need more attention than adult patients. Need to give.
He said, “If 500 nurses come to tell you, you have to trust your nurses.”
CNN has reached out to Tower Health for comment.
In an email statement, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic Hospital officials told CNN that on Tuesday, Pasnap and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital “reached a temporary agreement for a new labor agreement,” which we believe is good news for our nurses, colleagues and the community. ”
“Mercy Fitzgerald nurses will vote on whether to ratify the agreement on November 12,” they said in a statement. “We are fully committed to negotiating in good faith with the union leaders representing the nurses at St. Mary’s in the spirit of achieving a fair, consistent and sustainable contract for our St. Mary’s nurses as well. We are finalizing our contingency plans to ensure. We are safe, high. -We can continue to serve our communities with quality care and minimize disruptions to whomever we serve. We do not expect any disruptions to services at this time. We will notify our community as we move forward. “
A spokesman for Einstein Health said: “Einstein is committed to bargaining in good faith with Passnap.”
The spokesperson said: “We are currently in active negotiations and our goal is to reach a new agreement for our 1,100 nurses who continue to provide fair, competitive salaries and benefits and enable our Magnet designated hospital to continue to deliver safe, high quality care. Is. ” Said in an email statement to CNN.
“Einstein wants to reach an agreement without a strike. Our hospital will be open and fully operational during the Passnap strike – there should be someone. If the union takes nurses by the side of patients’ beds to walk on the picket line, Einstein will implement a comprehensive The contingency plan of the strike is to ensure a minimum, if any, disruption for those receiving care during the PASNAP strike or visiting our hospital.Our plan includes licensed, experienced temporary replacement nurses who care for patients during any strike. “
.
