Not only did Temple University Hospital nurses win a new contract after a 28-day strike in May, the workers now will receive $1.5 million in unemployment compensation—and Temple will have to foot the bill.
The Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board recently ruled that Temple University Hospital locked out workers by unilaterally changing employee working conditions prior to the strike. This decision makes the nurses and other professionals who went on strike eligible for unemployment benefits, which total about $550 per week, per worker. Because Temple, like many large employers, is self-insured for unemployment compensation, the hospital is responsible. continue reading