After more than a year of negotiations, nurses and technicians at Temple Health - Chestnut Hill Hospital signed their first union contract, just days before they planned to strike. 

Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals (PASNAP) members at the hospital voted June 27 to ratify a three-year contract that includes an annual 3% pay increase.

The agreement was overwhelmingly approved by union members with 96% of nurses and 98% of technicians voting in favor of the contract. 

Maureen May, PASNAP president, said in a written statement, “At the core of both negotiations were the same concerns: retention of skilled professionals and wages and working conditions to attract new hires to the bedside to enhance patient care.”

She added, “This contract, with its emphasis on staffing and measures to improve retention, acknowledges the life-saving contributions of these dedicated professionals. … By prioritizing their numbers and what they collectively bring to patients in desperate need, it also prioritizes patient care.”

PASNAP members planned a five-day strike beginning on July 4 if no agreement was reached. 

In response to the vote, Temple Health, the hospital’s majority owner, provided a statement to the Local, writing, “We, of course, ratified the latest contract with our nurses and allied professionals at Temple Health – Chestnut Hill Hospital — just as we’ve done with multiple agreements this year. This is the standard course of business and part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining strong working relationships. We appreciate everyone involved and remain focused on delivering high-quality care every day.”

Democratic State Rep. Tarik Khan, who is also a nurse practitioner and whose district includes Chestnut Hill, previously picketed with the nurses and celebrated the contract. 

He told the Local, “I’m so proud of the PASNAP nurses and technicians on ratifying a contract at Chestnut Hill Hospital. Sen. Haywood and I were proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers on the picket line and advocate for a fair contract with fair pay and benefits during negotiations for these essential workers.”

He added, “This contract is a testament to the advocacy and continued hard work of these nurses and technicians, which is reflected by stories we both hear about Chestnut Hill Hospital workers delivering exceptional care. It should be an added comfort to patients that Chestnut Hill Hospital workers are getting a fair shake. We appreciate Temple’s leadership at Chestnut Hill to get a fair deal done.”

Union demands

Since joining the (PASNAP) union in December 2023, the nurses and technicians at Chestnut Hill Hospital have cited staffing and wage concerns in ongoing negotiations with Temple Health, the hospital’s majority owner. 

For union members, persistent staffing issues were the primary sticking point throughout negotiations. 

According to Jim Smith, an ICU nurse and PASNAP member, nurses in the ICU regularly care for three patients each, despite industry standards calling for one nurse per one or two patients.

In reaction to the contract, Smith told the Local, “We are happy that we came to an agreement after 14 months of negotiations and look forward to working with management to make Temple Chestnut Hill Hospital a better place for its patients and families and its nurses and techs.”

Before the contract, PASNAP members emphasized that staffing issues extended throughout different units in the hospital. Several PASNAP members discussed the conditions at a press conference on April 16, calling them dangerous for both nurses and patients. 

Wages were another area of concern, with union members seeking higher wages and pay scales, hoping that would lead to higher retention of staff. 

Contract details

Part of the contract establishes what PASNAP representatives call a “fair and equitable wage scale.” 

The hospital introduced “adder” pay raises to certain departments during the pandemic to help recruit and retain nurses, but during negotiations, PASNAP members said Temple Health threatened to take away that pay. 

The new contract keeps the adder in place, with employees who received those pay increases getting smaller per-year raises until the wages of employees who did not receive the pandemic increases, and will receive the full 3%, catch up with them.

Dawn Verrecchio, a radiology tech and 19-year veteran of Chestnut Hill Hospital, said, “I’m looking forward to moving forward with safe staffing and better wages to keep my colleagues at Chestnut Hill Hospital and attract new ones, too. This is what we organized for — for our patients and the hospital staff.” 

Along with the wage scale, full-time employees will receive a $1,000 ratification bonus, and part-time employees will receive $500. Employees will receive one week of paid parental leave, equal to what employees at Temple Main and Fox Chase receive. In addition, employees who are victims of workplace violence will receive a week of paid leave. 

Kadena Smith-Fleming, a registered nurse at the hospital, said, “I'm very, very proud that we stood together, in solidarity, for our patients and for ourselves. We were able to win a contract that is as fair and equitable as it could be with no concessions.”

The contract also establishes several committees, including Staffing, Joint Practice, and Health and Safety.

“Unionized workplaces are fair partnerships between management and workers, and this contract is a win for workers, the hospital, and our community,” Khan said. “Sen. Haywood and I will now work on helping Chestnut Hill Hospital come out whole despite devastating planned healthcare cuts from Washington.”