Nurses Resolve 'Unsafe and Illegal' Conditions At Norristown's Suburban Community Hospital

NORRISTOWN, PA -- The union representing Suburban Community Hospital's nurses has agreed to a contract with the hospital after a 10-month battle, the sides announced Thursday.

The resolution comes after nearly a year of picketing, rallying, and dealmaking. PASNAP, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, said that the dispute originated in Prime Healthcare's refusal to adopt key terms of the original contract.

A mass demonstration at several Prime Healthcare hospitals in the region, involving 2,500 nurses picketing, took place in mid-November.

"Suburban Community Hospital values our nursing staff and the compassionate care they provide to our patients," the hospital said in a statement at the time. "We look forward to the new collective bargaining agreement."

PASNAP identified three key highlights of the new agreement:

• A wage scale with yearly increases. Including steps movements, most nurses will see a 6% increase over the life of the contact with some nurses receiving a 20% raise over the life of the contract. The top of the scale is $49 per hour, which will be among the highest base rates in Montgomery County.

• Reductions to healthcare cost and improved plan design. With costs being reduced by as much as $90 per pay, this will translate into average savings will be $2500 per year. The improved plan design that will ensure that services not offered by Prime Healthcare will be covered as if those nurses were receiving care at the hospital. This will result in a savings of $3700 per year.

• The reinstatement of previous staffing language which guarantees safe staffing grids and that if the hospital wants to change those grids they must meet with the nurses prior to the change. In addition the resources nurse (a floating nurse without an assignment) and float team will be at the hospital to assist when acuity of patients demands additional staff.

Prime, a for-profit hospital system, bought Suburban in March. At that time, they said that their goal is to restore and rejuvenate local community hospitals which they believe should not have to close.

The hospital opened in 1944 as Riverview Hospital on 740 Sandy Street in Norristown.

PASNAP represents 8,300 nurses and health professionals throughout the state.

Patch file photo.