Strike or lockout? Depends on where you stand in DCMH standoff

The two-day strike against Delaware County Memorial Hospital by its unionized nurses and techs is over; the picketing is not.

We use our editorial page today to talk about why that is, and when union nurses could be back on the job.

In the meantime, a new round of talks in the contract standoff is now set for March 14. You can get the full update here.

The two sides remain at odds about the cause of the work stoppage, with the union insisting that staffing is not up to par, putting patients in danger; and the hospital responding that staffing is the same as it's always been, with that being a ruse by nurses who want more money.

Neither side looks ready to budget off their talking points.

Maybe the region's most noted dealmaker, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, can get these two sides in a room and hammer out a new contract. You can read the editorial here.