CONTENTS:

 

Call to Action! Wednesday, March 31

Come support the 1,500 striking Temple nurses and professionals

University Hospital voted overwhelmingly to reject the hospital's unacceptable 'best and final offer'. A strike is set to commence March 31.

 

Join us WEDNESDAY, March 31 at NOON to help 1,500 workers speak out against:

Union-busting tactics and attempts to eliminate the union shop

Rally at NOON

Temple University Hospital

Broad & Ontario Streets, Philadelphia

 

Let us know you're coming!

Confirm today that your union or organization will be present tomorrow to support the nurses at Temple by calling Emily Randle at 215-360-1056, and make sure you check in with PASNAP staff tomorrow. We will be sure to acknowledge your solidarity!

We are expecting an enormous turnout, so please try to take public transportation or carpool whenever possible, as parking will be extremely limited. For the Broad Street line, get off either at Allegheny (and walk north) or Erie (and walk south). 

See you tomorrow at noon! We're counting on you!

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Philadelphia Hospital Workers Prepare to Strike By Marty Harrison   |  March 30, 2010

 

Health care workers at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia are readying to strike Wednesday, holding out against demands to give up free-speech rights, explode health care costs, and hobble the union's power.

A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

Temple’s last offer would double health care premiums for nurses, triple them for the technical/professional staff, freeze wages for the first year of the contract, and reduce hard-won wage differentials for undesirable shifts and 24-hour on-call rates.

The hospital unilaterally and illegally eliminated the long-standing dependent tuition benefit last year and intends to keep it out of any future agreement. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled in the union’s favor on this issue in January, but Temple has appealed, now fighting not only its employees but also the Labor Board. Clearly, the hospital administration prefers to spend Pennsylvanians’ tax dollars on lawyers rather than on caregivers at the bedside.

The hospital also is attempting to constrain union power. Temple is demanding an end to fair share or agency fee payments, effectively destroying the closed shop. Management offered the nurses a three-year agreement and the technical/professional staff a four-year agreement, to strip the common expiration date from the two locals.

Further, its final offer gives hospital administration the right to change or eliminate health plans at any time and to hike premiums annually. This language takes health coverage outside the bounds of contract negotiations and into the realm of management policy, over which it has sole discretion.

The administration has repeatedly cited the economic downturn to rationalize the concessions it’s demanding. Though the Health System ended the fiscal year with a small deficit, largely due to costs associated with closing its Northeastern hospital, the flagship Temple University Hospital came out $16.5 million ahead. Of the $178 million allotted to the university by the state last year, the hospital’s share totaled about $30 million.

Back in September, the membership rejected Temple’s final offer by a vote of 1051 to 7. Individual members have spent the last six months preparing financially for a strike—saving tax refund checks, taking second jobs, paying utility bills ahead, stocking up the freezer, transferring families to spouses’ health insurance plans, and deferring non-essential spending.

 

Marty Harrison is a Temple staff nurse and executive board member at the hospital's PASNAP local.   http://www.labornotes.org/2010/03/philadelphia-hospital-workers-prepare-strike

 

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Show on PBS Wednesday Evening- March 31

 

Dear Friends,

Please try to watch PBS at 9 PM tomorrow evening.

Tavis Smiley has produced a show that will be aired at that time.

It has to do with MLK JR' famous speech at Riverside Church in NYC

against the war in Vietnam and linking that speech to the war's today in Iraq

and Afghanistan.   I understand it is a very powerful program.

Thank You.

Solidarity,

Tom

---

Tom Paine Cronin

tompainecronin@comcast.net

__________________________

 

 

"A Seder of Justice, Human Rights and Health Care: The Reality in the West Bank and Gaza."

 

Alice Rothchild, author of "Broken Promises, Broken Dreams"is a prominent Boston-based physician, active with American Jews for a Just Peace, will be speaking at a Passover seder on Friday night at Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Avenue in Roxborough at 7:00 PM. 

Alice has participated in medical delegations to Israel and the Occupied Territories as part of AJJP's Health and Human Rights Project. Join us for learning and conversation.  Enjoy Passover ritual and dessert. 

____________________

 

PUBLIC FORUM:

For the State Representative Candidates

Wednesday April 7, 2010 – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

6148 Ridge Avenue, Roxborough Development Corporation - (across from Roma’s Pizza) FREE EVENT

 

I am writing to invite you to the first public forum/debate of the candidates for State Representative.  The event is FREE and open to everyone, so please bring family and friends.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about where the candidates stand on issues of particular concern to you. 

If you are tired of corporations controlling politics, schools falling apart, and nonexistent jobs then please come and support me.  I am running against a political machine that will do everything in its power to silence an independent candidate like myself and I need your backing. I am running so that your voice will be heard and we can make real changes that directly affect your life.  

  If you have any questions, please contact us-  go to www.HughGiordano.com.

________________________________________________________________________________

 

Through the Decades: Celebrating 8 Decades of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania

Save the Date! 4.17.2010 | 8pm-Midnight

Center City, Philadelphia

(location disclosed to ticketholders only!)

Start scouring the thrift stores and create a glamorous get-up

for this year's decade-themed event! Dress in the attire from

your favorite decade and join PPSP as we celebrate our

long-standing committment to reproductive rights and healthcare

in our community!

*Tickets: $25 advance, $35 at the door. Groups of 10+ are $20

per ticket advance, $30 per ticket at the door.

For more information or to purchase tickets:

Visit our online ticket booth at www.ppsp.org .

Call 215-351-5571

email externalaffairs@ppsp.org

 

*Each ticket includes 2 complimentary drink tickets. After

complimentary drink tickets, additional drink tickets may be

purchased for $3 for beer and $4 for wine*

Please note this is a 21+ event.

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NATIONAL  & INTERNATIONAL ACTION:

 

National Conference to Bring the Troops Home Now

 

> AN INVITATION FROM: After Downing Street, Arab American Union Members

> Council, Black Agenda Report, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Campus

> Antiwar Network, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War, National Assembly

> to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations, Peace of the Action,

> Progressive Democrats of America, U.S. Labor Against the War, The Fellowship

> of Reconciliation, Veterans for Peace, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and

> Women's International League for Peace and Freedom [list in formation]

     

> July 23-25, 2010, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Albany, New York

 

The purpose of this conference is to bring together antiwar and social

> justice activists from across the country to discuss and decide what we can

> do together to end the wars, occupations, bombing attacks, threats and

> interventions that are taking place in the Middle East and beyond, which the

> U.S. government is conducting and promoting. Attend and voice your opinion

> on where the antiwar movement is today and where we go from here.

>

> In these deeply troubled times, Washington's two wars and occupations rage

> on, resulting in an ever increasing number of dead and wounded; more and

> more civilians killed in drone bombing attacks; misery, deprivation,

> dislocation and shattered lives for millions; and a suicide rate for U.S.

> service members soaring to unprecedented heights. At the same time,

> trillions are spent on these seemingly endless Pentagon conflicts waged in

> pursuit of profits and global domination while trillions more are lost by

> working people in the value of their homes, in the loss of their jobs,

> pensions and health care, and in cuts for public services and vitally needed social programs.

 

For more information,  http://www.nationalpeaceconference.org

> Please help us inform you of activities in your town by logging in at

> http://afterdowningstreet.org

> Then click on "My account", on "Edit", and on "Personal Information," and

> type in your state and zip code.

>

FORWARD this message to everyone you know who doesn't think we should

> have one set of laws for us and another for those we put in powerful positions.

>

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