Frontline nurses at four area hospitals have taken steps toward a strike. As a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation, the nurses are seeking a commitment to safe minimum staffing levels from each of the four hospitals – St. Mary Medical Center, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and Einstein Medical Center.
Nurses at St. Mary and Mercy Fitzgerald, both part of Trinity Health, issued notices for a strike that will begin on Nov. 17. Nurses at Einstein and St. Chris voted to authorize their bargaining committees to call a strike, but notices have not yet been issued.
The 800 nurses at St. Mary have been bargaining with management for a first contract for more than a year, but said owner Michigan-based Trinity Health Systems has refused to address staffing and patient safety concerns that are nurses’ No. 1 issue. They’re asking for a commitment to safe minimum staffing levels in the nurses’ contract, and for affordable healthcare, especially when provided at their own facility.
“It’s incredibly unfortunate that nurses feel they have to strike in order to protect their patents,” said Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals president Maureen May, RN. “On the cusp of a resurgence of COVID, it’s more important now than ever before that hospitals have safe minimum staffing levels in place so that patients can get the care they need at the bedside.”
St. Mary officials released the following statement:
“At St. Mary Medical Center, our mission is to serve our community as a provider of compassionate, transformative and high-quality care. Despite the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related financial impact the pandemic has had on St. Mary and other hospitals around the country, we remain fully committed to negotiating in good faith and in the spirit of obtaining a fair, consistent and sustainable agreement with our nurses and PASNAP as we work toward a first-time contract.
“We fully recognize our nurses’ rights and respect their voices during these ongoing negotiations, and it is unfortunate and surprising that the nurses of St. Mary chose to engage in a work stoppage rather than continue the significant progress we have made. Despite this action, there will be work available for all nurses who choose to come to work regardless of a call to strike.
“Our highly skilled and dedicated team of colleagues, along with the contribution of additional qualified professional resources, will allow us to continue our healing ministry. We remain focused on our mission of providing extraordinary, compassionate care for the patients and families we are privileged to serve. Our message to our community is that we are here for you and prepared to care for you safely.”
