FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025
CONTACT: Megan Othersen Gorman / mgorman@pasnap.com / (215) 817-5781
2,600 TEMPLE NURSES, TECHS, AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WIN CONTRACTS WITH LONG-SOUGHT PROTECTIONS FOR STAFF AND PATIENTS
Every day, a thousand times a day, we give our patients what they need. The public and our elected officials were behind us in our contract fight because they know that’s what we do, and they trust us to hold our ground and to make sure we have the staff, the equipment, and the supplies to take good care of every human life, no matter what zip code they were born in. That’s what we fought for. Every single one of us. We did it together, for North Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – Eleven days ago, 2,600 nurses, techs, and professionals across two PASNAP-represented locals within the Temple Health system postponed their scheduled October 6th strike by one week after Temple agreed to withdraw proposals to significantly increase healthcare costs for employees. Today, just three days before that rescheduled strike was due to begin, they overwhelmingly ratified new 3-year contracts with long-sought protections for staff and patients.
The ratification vote took place from 7 AM to 8 PM today across three Temple Health locations: Temple Main Hospital, Temple Women & Families Hospital, and Jeanes Hospital. 87% of Temple University Hospital Nurses Association (1,600 nurses) members who voted voted in favor of the contract; a decisive 90% of Temple Allied Professionals (1,000 techs and pros) who voted voted in favor of the contract.
These nurses, techs, and professionals work primarily at Temple’s flagship hospital on North Broad Street and at Temple’s Women & Families Hospital on Wyoming Avenue.
“This contract campaign was a testament to our commitment to our patients, to each other, to our institution, and to bringing care to North Philadelphia,” says Marty Harrison, RN, president of the Temple University Hospital Nurses Association. “We are here to provide high quality health care to our patients – people whom the rest of the world would rather just disappear.
“We are the ones who every day, a thousand times a day, give these patients what they need,” she says. “The public and our elected officials were behind us because they know that’s what we do, and they trust us to hold our ground and to make sure we have the staff, the equipment, and the supplies to take good care of every human life, no matter what zip code they were born in. That’s what we fought for. Every single one of us. We did it together, for North Philadelphia.”
“Our contract fight was about protecting the Temple community – the Temple patient community, and staff at Temple Main, Temple Women & Families, and across the Temple Health system,” says certified pharmacy tech Carlos Aviles, CPhT, president of Temple Allied Professionals. “We fought for them. We protected our people. And I am so proud of that.”.
The new contracts includes meaningful improvements in three key areas:
Protection against workplace violence was a hallmark of the healthcare workers’ campaign, and for the first time, per the new contract, Temple is now accountable for enforcing their security policies. Temple will take all necessary and reasonable measures to prevent, respond to, and eliminate incidents of workplace violence, including but not limited to:
Installing weapons detectors at Temple Women & Families Hospital within 120 days and ensuring all hospital entrances, units, and parking areas are secured and monitored. Weapons detectors are already in place at Temple Main.
Providing trained security personnel including at least two certified protection officers (CPOs) who are empowered to intervene in violent situations. Per the contracts, security personnel will respond to all Code Grays (an alert indicating an emergency situation involving a combative or agitated person) on the units.
Maintaining functional and accessible panic buttons, surveillance, and emergency alert systems.
Temple also agreed to crucial staffing provisions to ensure safe, quality care for vulnerable mothers and babies, including additional staffing at the new Women & Families Hospital to meet the needs of patients and caregivers.
Nurses, techs, and professionals won wage increases of 3.25%, 3.25%, and 3% across the three years of the contract. With step increases for experience, Temple nurses, techs, and professionals will see wage increases of between 9% and 27% over the lifetime of the contract. Plus, full time staff will receive a one-time $1,000 ratification bonus; part-time staff will receive a $500 ratification bonus.
FOR NURSES: Advanced Practice Nurses will now receive $2,500 per year for continuing education; per diem staff who work holiday shifts will be paid a $12 differential (up from $10); the pool call rate will increase to $4/hour; and preceptor pay will be paid for both precepting new RNs and nurses transitioning into a new unit.
FOR TECHS AND PROFESSIONALS: Eligibility for certification bonuses was expanded and the bonus increased to $1,500 per year; a new Pharmacy Tech Chemo Differential of $2/hour while mixing was established; and a shift differential of 10% will now be extended to day shift employees who work a full shift after completing their regular shift.
The new agreements obviate the need for Temple to spend millions of dollars on temporary replacements during a planned five-day strike. Instead, Temple is investing those resources where they belong — in its own dedicated workforce.
“These contracts are wins for every nurse, tech, and healthcare professional at Temple — and for every patient who comes through our doors,” said PASNAP President Maureen May, RN, longtime Temple University Hospital Mother & Baby Nurse. “The central issues in our bargaining campaign weren’t just about us — they’re about the safety and dignity of our patients. Today, Temple leadership heard us loud and clear.”
###
Temple University Hospital Nurses Association (TUHNA) and Temple University Hospital Allied Health Professionals (TAP) are affiliates of PASNAP, the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents more than 11,000 frontline healthcare workers across the commonwealth. PASNAP was founded 25 years ago on the belief that patients do better when frontline caregivers have a voice to advocate for their patients and themselves.
