Reflecting Pent Up Demands for Respect and Recognition,

Wills Eye Surgical Center Nurses Organize Union

Philadelphia , PA -- The Registered Nurses and Technicians who work for the Wills Eye Surgical Center voted 29 to 3 to form a union with the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, Pennsylvania 's professional union for nurses and health professionals. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board conducted the election, which concluded Friday afternoon, March 24th.

Located in center city Philadelphia at 840 Walnut Street , the surgery center is the primary successor to Wills Eye Hospital as most surgical procedures involving the eye have moved to highly sophisticated "same day" surgical facilities like the one here. Wills Eye and the Surgical Center are operated by the Philadelphia Board of City Trusts.

At a time when there is a drastic labor market shortage of key health professionals, such as nurses and operating room technicians, the employees of the surgical center believed they were being shortchanged for their expertise and dedication to their patients. Sparking the campaign to organize were demands to receive adequate compensation for experience (the facility employs nurses with up to 40 years of experience), secure retirement benefits and respect for the highly specialized quality work the nurses and technicians perform.

Registered Nurse Kate Bader, an RN with 40 years of experience, said of the election results, "It's time nurses and technicians had a voice in the decisions that affect our work and the care we give our patients."

PASNAP already represents 5,000 Registered Nurses at several other Philadelphia facilities, including Temple University Hospital and Crozer Chester Medical Center , as well as many others around the State.

The members of the new PASNAP local will work with PASNAP staff members to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with Wills Eye Surgical Center.

PASNAP , the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, represents 5,000 Registered Nurses and other professionals at hospitals statewide, including Crozer Chester Medical Center , Temple University Hospital , Temple Northeastern Hospital , Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital and Mercy Suburban Hospital , among others. Editor's Note: For more information about PASNAP , go to www.pennanurses.org