April 21st, 2010

Reports the Delaware County Daily Times:

Members of the striking Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals at Temple University Hospital will stage a rally at 5:30 today at the hospital, North Broad and Ontario streets and are inviting any union members from the area to join them.

Patty Eakin, president of the Philadelphia chapter of PASNAP, said the union has been on strike against the hospital since March 31 over such issues as a gag clause prohibiting union members from making any public comment that could be taken as a criticism of the hospital, and a safe patient-to-nurses ratio.

“Wages are not the bigger issue, but they (hospital) wants us to double or triple what we now pay in health benefits.” Eakin said. “Temple is rolling in money for a very small health system.”

Eakin said there are 5000 PASNAP members statewide and 1,500 at Temple.

Evelyn Harper, a Ridley Park resident and an operating room nurse at the hospital, said there are a number of Delaware County residents who are PASNAP members at Temple and are among the striking members.

She said she is hoping for a big turnout at the rally and also hopes county residents will support the event.