1,200 union nurses at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital vote in favor of strike as bargaining continues
Most of the nurses who voted agreed to walk off the job at the hospital in Philadelphia's Logan neighborhood, if their union calls for it.
Nurses at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital on Monday voted to authorize a strike if their bargaining committee calls for it as they negotiate a new union contract.
The nurses want the contract to include solutions to staffing issues, as well as assurances that the hospital will not close departments. Earlier this year, Jefferson Health announced plans to close several pediatric clinics, including the Pediatric & Adolescent Ambulatory Center at Einstein Philadelphia at the end of this month.
“Our patients deserve better than Jefferson is willing to deliver on its own. So do the nurses who care for them,” said Stephanie Stucka, a neuroscience nurse and co-president of Einstein Nurses United, in a statement.
The North Philadelphia hospital has about 1,200 unionized nurses, whose contract expired over six weeks ago. They are members of Einstein Nurses United, a local of Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP).
A little more than half the local’s members participated in the in-person vote, and 96% voted in favor of a strike, according to the union.
The union also voted to authorize a strike during their last contract negotiations in 2023, and ultimately reached an agreement on a new contract without walking off the job.
The union and hospital management continue to negotiate. Bargaining sessions are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Monday, PASNAP spokesperson Megan Othersen Gorman said. If the committee does call for a strike, it must submit a 10-day notice under the National Labor Relations Act, she said.
“This action risks putting disruption ahead of patients and community members,” a Jefferson spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement Tuesday. “While a strike is not imminent, this vote sends the wrong message at a time when our community needs stability, partnership, and a shared commitment to care — especially as Philadelphia prepares to host major national and global events that will place increased demand on our healthcare system."
The nurses’ union has proposed changes to improve staffing levels in most units, as well as contract language to protect staffing standards. It says Jefferson management has rejected these proposals.
The nurses also want management to commit to keeping hospital safety measures put in place in recent years, including increased security and weapons screenings. The union also noted nurses’ concerns that benefits like paid time off and pension may be cut, and that the cost of their healthcare plans could rise.
The hospital, formerly known as Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, became part of Jefferson Health when it acquired the Einstein Healthcare Network in 2021.
