Nurses Ratify Their First Contract at
South Jersey Healthcare:

At the Ratification Vote, 92% of attendees voted YES in favor to accept the contract

To get more information on the wage increases that we negotiated, click here

 After ten months of negotiations, we have now ratified our first contract which we are proud to say does include strong language on Staffing, Wages, and Nurses’ Rights.

On Monday, November 19^th membership meetings were held throughout the day for nurses to learn about the details and ask questions about their contract.  Over the course of the day over 300 nurses voted in a secret ballot election.  At 9:30 PM the results were tallied with an overwhelming majority voting Yes to ratify.  The final tally was 308 Yes votes and 26 No votes. 

“For months, our goal was a contract that would assure our rights as patient advocates; safe and effective patient care;  safe working conditions and fair wages and educational opportunities”, said Michele Silvio, the chair of the RN bargaining committee. “We achieved that goal, through our own unity and strength, and through the support of our patients, our community and elected officials.  Everyone recognized that our contract with our patients relied on achieving a fair contract with our hospitals.”

Among the key contract proposals are:

*Establishment of a staffing committee and language to assure safe staffing;

* Limits on ‘floating’ RNs from units beyond their specialized training;

* Additional tuition reimbursement for advanced education;

* Set-up of a Retiree Health Care Account, based on RN vote in 2009;

* Raises of 4%; 5% and 4-1/2% over a 31-month contract, with a retroactive raise to June, 07, as well as an  annual ‘step’ increase averaging 1%;

*Protection of RNs union status and rights.

The RN Negotiating Team thanks every nurse who showed support over the last 10 months as the Team worked to achieve the best contract possible.  This contract would not have been possible without the tremendous support from the nurses, community and labor leaders, and our elected officials.

News articles:

Nurses ratify contract
Bridgeton News - 11/20/07

Nurses rally turns into celebration of tentative S.J. Healthcare contract  - Press of Atlantic City

SJH nurses unite in victory: Union strikes deal with administration - The Daily Journal.com