Parties in Nursing Strike Return to Negotiation Table

Opposing parties in Temple’s nursing strike will return to the negotiation table tomorrow afternoon.

Opposing parties in Temple’s nursing strike will return to the negotiation table tomorrow afternoon. The meeting between Temple University Hospital management and union representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, PASNAP was arranged by the state mediator. Sandy Gomberg, CEO of Temple University Hospital says getting called to the meeting by the state mediator makes her hopeful that union representatives have shifted their position:

Gomberg: We hope that this is an indication that PASNAP may be considering the last, best and final offer which we already implemented, or the proposal that was proffered by the mediator as a settlement, which Temple indicated it would have accepted, but PASNAP rejected

Union representatives didn’t say whether they have changed their position. Bill Cruice is director of PASNAP:

Cruice: We’re prepared to do what we have to do to find a principled agreement and that includes being flexible in our position

Temple nurses and other unionized professionals went on strike on March 31st. Major sticking points are wages and health benefits premiums. The hospital is currently staffed by outside nurses.