FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026
CONTACT: Megan Othersen Gorman / [email protected] / (215) 817-5781
Ashley Berry Johnson / [email protected] / (267) 990-5505
NEARLY 1,200 JEFFERSON EINSTEIN NURSES RATIFY CONTRACT THAT STRENGTHENS PATIENT CARE AND PROTECTS CAREGIVERS, DELIVERING FOR PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND NORTH PHILADELPHIA
Einstein Nurses United Successfully Secured Tier 1 Coverage for Pediatric Care For Jefferson Employees Across the Health System—a Change That Will Save Workers Thousands in Healthcare Costs and Benefit Union and Nonunion Employees Alike
PHILADELPHIA, PA – After nearly five months of contract bargaining that included a massive informational picket outside the hospital on May 21st and an overwhelming strike authorization vote on June 15th, the nearly 1,200 Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital nurses of Einstein Nurses United voted decisively today to ratify a new three-year contract that delivers exactly what they fought so hard for – meaningful gains for caregivers and critical care in North Philadelphia, and NONE of the cuts management sought at the table.
The ratification vote took place from 6:30 AM to 8:30 PM today at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital. Over 90% of Einstein Nurses United members voted in favor of the contract.
“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 Neurology Nurse Stephanie Stucka, RN, Co-President of Einstein Nurses United. “That was our goal all along, and in the end, Jefferson chose to do the right thing and partner with us for the good of our patients. It was a massive win.”
“Our contract fight was all about protecting the Einstein patient community and the nurses who choose to work here specifically to care for them,” says Carla Le’coin, RN, longtime Einstein Mother Baby Nurse and Einstein Nurses United Political and Community Outreach Chair. “We fought for them. We protected our people. And I am so proud of that.”
“I want to make something very clear,” she adds: “Even though this contract is done—our fight isn’t. At Einstein, we will continue to fight for a safer workplace, for our patient community, and for each other. And hopefully, this little inner-city hospital will, over time, push the entire Jefferson Enterprise to advance patient-care priorities across the system, for all patients and for all caregivers.”
The new Einstein Nurses United contract includes:
WAGES TO KEEP SKILLED NURSING STAFF IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA:
Einstein Nurses United successfully negotiated an expanded experience-based wage scale with the addition of three interim steps plus a new step for nurses with more than 35 years of experience. The four additional steps mean that Einstein nurses, guaranteed 3% raises every year of the contract, will receive increases of 10% to 14% over the lifetime of their contract. If Jefferson gives its non-union workers more than yearly increases of more than 3%, Einstein Nurses United members will receive the difference, too.
PLUS: Einstein RNs negotiated increases to differentials for Weekend Evening and Weekend Night shift to $6.50 for those who are paid flat hourly differentials.
SAFER STAFFING FOR PATIENTS AND NURSES:
Einstein nurses came to the bargaining table committed to addressing ongoing staffing shortages that have strained caregivers and impacted patient care. The new contract delivers meaningful staffing improvements across the hospital, helping to ensure that patients receive the attention they deserve and nurses have the support they need to provide it. Per the new contract:
- Behavioral Health One to One Patients will require additional staff for care: To address care for some of the most at risk and vulnerable population of our community, the hospital has committed to adding staff to avoid taking staff away from patient care to cover one to one patients.
- No reduction to staffing levels in any department without consensus from the Nursing Resource Committee: A committee of rank and file nurses and nursing directors must come to consensus to determine changes.
- Projected admissions must be factored into staffing levels: Jefferson’s staffing levels must account for patients who will be admitted to a unit to avoid short-staffing.
- No forced rotation: No forced rotation from day to night shift, night to day shifts, is now enshrined in the Jefferson Einstein nurses’ contract.
- The weekend program: The Union achieved increases to rates of pay for the nurses in the Weekend Program to help attract and retain nurses committed to working weekend shifts to ensure safer staffing levels.
“I’m really happy that we’re going to start having conversations about the staffing issues in the OR,” says OR Nurse and ENU Bargaining Committee member Julianne Mosca, RN. “Ultimately, management listened, they heard us, and we are taking action together. It was amazing to be a part of that process, helping to initiate real, meaningful change for my coworkers and our patients.”
IMPROVED HEALTHCARE BENEFITS FOR JEFFERSON WORKERS SYSTEM-WIDE:
Those on the front lines of critical care deserve affordable healthcare. Through negotiations, Einstein Nurses United successfully secured Tier 1 coverage for pediatric care for Jefferson employees across the health system—a change that will save workers thousands of dollars in healthcare costs and benefit Union and nonunion employees alike.
“We’re trying to make Jefferson Einstein a more desirable place to work by enhancing our benefits,” says Emergency Department Nurse and Einstein Nurses United Co-President Jyll Kurczewski, RN. “There are many healthcare networks in the area where RNs can choose to work. We want them to want to be at Einstein and to stay at Einstein.”
“This contract reflects months of collective, determined advocacy and is a win for every nurse, tech, and healthcare professional in the Jefferson Health system, and for every patient who comes through our doors,” says Surgical Intensive Care Unit Nurse Joe Miller, RN.
PENSION, SEVERANCE PROTECTIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS:
At the start of bargaining, Jefferson refused to make commitments to maintaining the nurses benefits. They insisted they needed flexibility with benefits (read: ability to make cuts,), including their pension, vacation time, sick time and severance, at will. This contract enshrines all of these benefits, protecting them all for the length of the contract. Jefferson must continue to contribute to the nurses’ pension, and they cannot freeze it. Jefferson can not negatively impact the sick time and vacation time of the nurses. Jefferson must pay a fair severance if Jefferson makes the unfortunate decision to lay off staff.
“Nurses who have built their careers here deserve respect from Jefferson management,” says Mica Annese, RN, a medical ICU nurse and member of the Einstein Nurses United Bargaining Committee. “We fought for that respect and got it.”
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Einstein Nurses United is an affiliate 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.
