Guaranteed Healthcare

By Donna Smith

When you see the faces of the members of PASNAP (Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals) on strike at Temple University Hospital and perhaps most especially when you see the faces of their children walking on the picket line with them, you embrace the reality of why these brave RNs and other health professionals were compelled to strike.  This strike is about providing the best possible care for the patients at Temple and doing so in a way that is supported by the health professionals who have given decades of service to the community and to the institution. (story and ACTION item continued next page)

The 1,500 member bargaining unit went out on strike on March 31, 2010.  With the support of local, regional and national labor, the strikers gathered on Wednesday, April 20, to rally and to let Temple know that their resolve grows stronger to end this strike only through a fair contract that enhances patient care and safety. 

So far, Temple adminsitrators have spent more hiring replacement workers (an estimated $5 million per week) than they would have spent had they negotiated a fair contract -- and that spending is taxpayer money -- public funds -- being spent to defeat this righteous battle by the RNs and other health professionals.

One way the PASNAP members are suggesting folks bring more pressure into play on the Temple administrators would be to call the chariman of the Temple University board of trustees and let him know that spending public money to "union bust" is a waste of funds and works against the very people fighting to protect patients at Temple.

Call Patrick O'Connor, Chairman of the Board, Temple University, phone 610-941-2375 or email poconnor@cozen.com