Over the weekend, this news source published stories related to the potential sale by Prime Healthcare of Lower Bucks Hospital.
Prime officials said on Monday, revising their original statement released Sunday, there is no sale currently proceeding. On Sunday afternoon, Lower Bucks Source obtained exclusive information about where labor negotiations with the nurses’ union stood.
Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals Spokesperson (PASNAP) Megan Gorman confirmed the labor dispute is ongoing and bargaining sessions begin again this morning (Tuesday).
“We (sic) do not yet have a contract. Negotiations are ongoing. In fact, we have bargaining tomorrow with a new lawyer for Prime since the lawyer that had been handling the negotiations from the beginning is no longer working with Prime as of about two weeks ago,” Gorman said.
The 136 nurses who work for the hospital went on a five-day strike during the Christmas season, never reaching a deal with Prime Healthcare Services.
The nurses are demanding better wages, healthcare, and increased staff-to-patient ratios
The nurses, along with elected state and county officials, picketed along Bath Road as motorists shouted support or disagreement with their work action.
The nurses purposely went on strike over the holiday because fewer people were in the hospital.
On Tuesday, Prime Spokeswoman Michelle Aliprantis released the following statement from Prime. published in its entirety;
Lower Bucks Hospital and Suburban Community has been bargaining with the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) since September of 2023. We have been negotiating diligently and working together to reach a fair and mutually beneficial agreement.
Our hospitals presented several proposals to the Union, which included the subjects of wages and staffing, in an effort to extend counterproposals to the Union’s prior proposals. The Hospitals’ offer reflects a commitment to recognizing the hard work and dedication of the Hospitals’ valued employees. We believe the Hospitals’ proposals address the key topics raised during negotiations, and we remain optimistic that we will come to an agreement that is in the best interests of all those we serve.
