Crozer-Chester Medical Center nurses ready for strike

UPLAND, Pa. (WPVI) -- The nurses from Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Delaware County are ready to walk off the job this weekend.

The signs are ready, and at 7:00 a.m. Sunday, roughly 600 nurses will take part in a two day strike.

The issues - staffing, pay cuts and pension funding.

"Everybody isn't taking lunches, they are not eating. We can't sometimes even go to the bathroom during a 12 hour shift," said Kelly Ellis, RN.

Ellis works in the burn unit. She says patients are often there months at a time and patients aren't getting the care they deserve.

"You just can't take care of seven patients, when you used to take care of four. In my unit especially, they are demanding. They've been there for months. We know their families," said Ellis.

A spokesperson at the hospital say staffing levels are more than adequate and rank above national averages.

In a statement officials say "Nurses at Crozer-Chester Medical Center are already the highest-paid in Pennsylvania, with full-time nurses averaging $103,000 and the highest-paid RN making $167,000 last year."

The hospital says replacement nurses require at least five days of work so striking workers won't be allowed back until then.

Both sides say there has been little movement to get back to the negotiating table and it appears both sides are at a standstill.

"I hope they see how hard it is we are working and they come back to the negotiating table," said Ellis.

The hospital says it has been preparing for a strike for several months.

They stress that there will be no drop in the level of care provided to patients and that the hospital will function as normal.