Nurses return to work, struggle continues
By Joseph Piette
On March 10, after a two-day strike and a three-day lockout, 370 nurses and technicians returned to their jobs at Delaware County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) in Upper Darby, Pa. Hospital executives wasted $1.5 million on scab replacements for the week instead of coming to an agreement with the workforce of mainly women, represented by the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP).
Bargaining began over a year ago and has been fruitless so far. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on March 14.
Struggling for their first contract, the nurses are fighting for safe staffing levels and adequate supplies and equipment for their patients as well as fair wages, health care and pension benefits for themselves and their families. The workers say they are tired of being treated with unrelenting austerity while hospital executives wallow in high salaries and millions are spent on mergers, acquisitions and related schemes.