Suburban Hospital Nurses Avoid Strike, Agree To New Contract

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County nurses with one of the region's largest hospital chains have reached a new contract agreement just days ahead of a planned strike.

Nurses at Suburban Community Hospital in East Norriton say that the new, three-year deal provides vital patient and staff protections.

“This contract represents what both our nurses and our patients need," Shannan Giambrone, president of Suburban Community Hospital Nurse United, said in a statement. "We are proud that standing together for patient safety and responsible healthcare coverage has won us a great contract."

The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents nurses at both Suburban and Lower Bucks who signed the agreement, says that the deal includes the strongest protections for patient safety at any non-pediatric hospital in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Prime Healthcare and Prime Foundation, the owners of the hospitals, said in a statement that they were "pleased" with the new agreement.

"Lower Bucks Hospital and Suburban Community Hospital have a long tradition of providing quality medical and nursing care to the patients of our community," a spokesperson for Prime told Patch. "Patient care has and always will remain our number one priority. This new contract will allow these hospitals to continue this tradition. Thank you to the skilled and compassionate nurses and employees who are dedicated to serving all members of the community."

The strike had been planned for Friday at both hospitals.

Specifically, the new contracts require a minimum level of nursing care per patient and an improved healthcare plan for employed nurses. The deal also raises wages for Lower Bucks nurses. Suburban nurses remain among the highest paid nurses in Montgomery County, according to PASNAP.

Nurses are happy with the resolution and that it didn't come to a strike.

“Nurses and healthcare professionals have selflessly sacrificed during the COVID-19 pandemic at great personal risk to themselves,” PASNAP President Maureen May said in a statement. “In the positive resolution of these contract fights, the needs of our frontline workers have been respected and their patient communities are further protected. We are thrilled.”

Prime Healthcare owns 46 hospitals in 14 states.