NORTH JERSEY — Nurses' unions say they may strike at three prominent New Jersey hospitals next month if they cannot get nurse-to-patient ratios in their new contract.þþNursing union members at Englewood Hospital, HMH Palisades Medical Center, and Cooper voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to authorize strikes if a deal isn't reached in the coming days. Each union's contract expires on Friday.þþAny workforce that doesn't have a deal in place by that time will submit 10-day strike notice to give the hospitals notice, union officials said. Nurses must provide 10 days' notice before a strike so that hospitals can find replacement staff.þþA spokesperson for one of the hospitals said they continue to negotiate in good faith, and that they have a contingency plan in place if a strike begins.þþHMH Palisades Medical Center is located in North Bergen, near the border with Edgewater. Cooper is located in Camden.þþAll three unions are chapters of Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), which represents nurses and health care workers throughout New Jersey. The organization has spent years pushing for ÿsafeÿ ratios of nurses to patients to be enforced in their union contracts and in state law, they said.þþSafe staffing reduces burnout among nurses, which helps hospitals retain staff and improve patient safety, HPAE leadership said Tuesday in a news conference about the looming strikes.þþÿThe most important thing to patients is ratios,ÿ said HPAE President Debbie White. ÿThey want to have an available staff person with them. These are very wealthy hospitals. They can afford to do this.ÿþþCooper University Hospital is the largest hospital in South Jersey, with 30,032 admitted patients and 24,041 surgeries performed in 2021, according to hospitalmanagement.net. With 1,500 workers enrolled, Cooper's nursing union has the highest membership of the three HPAE chapters with looming strikes.þþEnglewood's chapter has about 800 members, while HMH Palisades's contains about 750.þþA spokesperson for Hackensack Meridian Health, which runs Palisades Medical Center, said the hospital has been negotiating with the union in good faith.þþThey released this statement:þþÿWe are disappointed HPAE Local 5030 is threatening the possibility of taking our dedicated Palisades Medical Center team members on strike. We have been bargaining in good faith with the union and feel we are making progress. Hackensack Meridian Health remains focused on the health and welfare of patients, visitors, team members, physicians and volunteers. If HPAE decides to move forward with a strike and takes team members away from patients to walk a picket line, our hospital will remain open and operational.þþÿPMC is prepared to execute a comprehensive strike contingency plan to ensure minimal disruption for those getting care or visiting our hospital during HPAE’s strike. Our plan includes hiring licensed, experienced temporary replacement team members who will care for patients during any strike. HMH remains committed to bargaining in good faith with HPAE Local 5030. We want to settle negotiations without further delay or disruption and reach agreement on new contracts that continue to provide team members with fair, competitive wages and benefits and allow our hospital to provide excellent care for patients.ÿþþSpokespersons for Cooper University Health Care didn't immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.þþFor years, HPAE has been sounding the alarm on a ÿstaffing crisisÿ in nursing, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The union has advocated for state legislation that would require minimum-staffing ratios at hospitals and other health care facilities.þþBut in the absence of legal mandates, nurse's unions have fought for enforceable staffing ratios in their contracts. Last year, nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick went on strike for 120 days before reaching a tentative deal.þþBills to establish minimum-staffing requirements have remained stalled in the State Senate and Assembly. But White expressed optimism in the rising number of sponsors, 13 assembly members and seven state senators on board. Neither bill has advanced to a full vote in the State Senate or Assembly.þþCalifornia and Massachusetts have laws enforcing staff ratios at hospitals. The HPAE has pointed to studies finding that California's law lowered mortality and improved nurse retention.
Source: patch.com
