Temple Hospital labor talks continueTalks continued Sunday between negotiators for Temple University Hospital and the Pennsylvania Association for Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals,
Moldthe union representing Temple's striking employees.
Bargaining continued late into the night.
"It's been a slow day," said union spokeswoman Kathleen Casey, though she added that there had been some progress. She said there also had been some movement on Saturday,
Diamond bladebut the big issues – wages, health benefits, and a tuition reimbursement for dependents, as well as a proposed contract clause forbidding employees from disparaging the hospital - remain unresolved.
To combat the general dreariness of picketing in the rain Sunday, Temple's striking employees fired up a barbecue on Broad Street, outside the hospital's main plaza.
On March 31, 1,500 nurses and technologists, therapists, social workers, and other allied health professionals went on strike after having worked six months under the terms of the previous contract.
The hospital brought in replacement workers and, through contractors, are paying their salaries, overtime, room, board, and transportation.
The union estimates that the replacement workers
Moldare costing the hospital $4 million to $5 million a week. The money spent in the first two weeks would have covered the raises being sought by the union over the entire contract, said union executive director Bill Cruice.
Hospital spokeswoman Rebecca Harmon declined to get into specifics but pointed out that the hospital would not have had to spend the money if the employees had not gone on strike.
Diamond bladeSince the strike began, the union has reduced its wage demands, but the hospital has not budged, based on figures cited in management's full-page advertisement in Sunday's Inquirer, titled "An Open Letter to the Community."
"We have offered our employees a contract that is fair and competitive, particularly in light of today's market and economic realities," the advertisement said.
The ad also detailed that the hospital's offerings include: a 4 percent wage increase over three years plus increases based on years of seniority, a choice of three health-benefit plans with the hospital paying 75 to 90 percent of the premium, a pension plan in which the hospital contributes up to 8.5 percent of an employee's base wages, tuition reimbursement for employees, and bonuses of $2,000 a year for the maintenance of nursing certifications.
MoldThe parties are actually negotiating a four-year contract,
Diamond bladebut they are more than halfway through the first year, since the contract expired in September.
