2,600 Temple Health Nurses, Technicians Plan Strike Over Staffing, Benefits

Approximately 2,600 nurses, technicians, and allied health professionals represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) are set to begin a five-day strike at Temple Health on October 6 if a new labor contract is not agreed upon. The union, led by Carlos Aviles, demands better staffing, improved safety measures against workplace violence, and enhanced benefits to retain staff amid ongoing concerns about personal safety and workplace conditions. Temple Health has expressed disappointment but has prepared contingency plans to maintain uninterrupted patient care, which have already cost over $1 million and are expected to increase. Despite these preparations, union members remain firm on striking unless their demands are met, criticizing the hospital for insufficient progress in negotiations and feeling undervalued despite being called "heroes." The strike authorization followed a contract expiration on September 30 and a union vote on September 19, with negotiations having started in July. Both sides continue to meet in hopes of reaching an agreement to avoid the strike, which union leaders warn would only delay contract resolution.