Health Professionals Reach Tentative Agreement with CarePoint Health at Hudson County Hospitals

Nurses and health professionals represented by HPAE Local 5185 at Bayonne Medical Center and HPAE Local 5186 at Christ Hospital reached a tentative agreement with CarePoint Health administrators on June 30. Negotiations resumed last week after a federal mediator was called in with less than a week before the contract expiration date of June 30.

“Throughout our hospital, tensions had been high as concerns that jobs will be outsourced and unionized staff could be terminated. In this tentative agreement, we have established protections giving the union the ability to intervene and bargain over the impact outsourcing efforts may have on unionized jobs,” said John Bauer, RN and President of HPAE Local 5185.

Details of the contract are not publicly available at this time. Nurses and health professionals in both locals will be voting throughout the day on Monday, July 2 on ratification of the tentative agreement.

“Throughout these negotiations nurses have demanded they receive the respect they deserve to help the hospital to retain and recruit experienced staff,” said Nicole Mankowski, RN and President of HPAE Local 5186. “We believe this is a fair contract. It ensures we as nurses can continue to advocate for our patients’ safety and our rights. We are very pleased we have maintained our protective language as it relates to outsourcing.”

Voting will conclude at 8pm on Monday, July 2 and immediately following the closing of the ballot box, a vote count will take place.