Crozer-Chester Nurses Planning A Two-Day Strike
By Kim Glovas
UPLAND, Pa. (CBS) - Nurses at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Delaware County have approved a two-day strike beginning September 21st. They say it is to protest "bad faith bargaining" by the hospital.
About 600 nurses are represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Nurses and Allied Professionals. Association executive director Bill Cruice says nurses have been working under terms of an old agreement which expired in June:
"The National Labor Relations Board has found that the hospital has violated the law by improperly telling employees they cannot communicate their message on hospital property, by not continuing negotiated wage increases."
Cruice says the hospital is also refusing to discuss issues like staffing conditions and other concerns:
"A survey by the Joint Commission found deficiencies in the operation of the hospital that they are refusing to turn over, and information regarding the pension plan, that they are seeking to change, specifically the bloated pensions that the executives are given at Crozer and they have refused to turn that over."
In a statement, the hospital said it had hoped the union would work toward a compromise which would allow competitive pay and cost savings to the facility. It also said a contingency plan is ready for the strike.