Nurses, Professionals and Techs ratify new contract with Violence Prevention Initiatives at Temple University Hospital, Episcopal Campus

Thursday, February 26, 2020

Healthcare workers at Temple University Health System, Episcopal Campus voted throughout the day on Wednesday, February 26th, to ratify a new contract for all 170 union members represented by Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE). HPAE Local 5106 won language that sets a pathway to achieve improvements in violence prevention. Throughout these negotiations, workers who have experienced and witnessed violent incidents raised their concerns and fought for these improvements which will increase safety measures, properly train all healthcare employees and promote quality care in a safe environment for all patients.

“As unionized healthcare professionals we were determined to make improvements that will give workers added security. Potentially violent incidents will be mediated and prevented to ensure a safe working environment. Reducing violence was a priority in these negotiations and our efforts to find a solution are improved in our new contract,” said Betsy Nulty, RN and President of HPAE Local 5106.

Healthcare workers are experience an alarming rate of workplace violence which led to efforts in Congress to pass H.R.1309, creating a standard under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to require employers to implement violence prevention programs for all healthcare and social service workers.

“Efforts in Washington D.C. have stalled after HR 1309 passed in the House last year. I applaud our members at Temple Episcopal Campus for achieving the goals of that legislation in their new contract. Every worker should have the right to safety in the workplace, and they need to have confidence that their employer has done everything in their ability to keep them safe from violence or harm,” said Debbie White, RN and President of HPAE.

The contract goes into effect March 1, 2020. The new agreement contains much needed job security protections in the event of a sale or merger. The new agreement also includes a 7.5% wage increase over three years and other improvements in working conditions which will help the hospital retain qualified healthcare workers, who provide critical behavioral health services to North Philadelphia and are on the front lines of the opioid crisis.

For more information, contact Bridget Devane, (732) 996-5493.