Meadowlands Workers Win New Agreement!!

Over 200 registered nurses and technical staff at Meadowlands Hospital got HPAE’s One Voice campaign off to a great start by winning a new contract with management. Highlights include:

*Wage increases for the RNs totaling 12.5 to 15% over the life of the 27 month contract, with RNs who have 5 or more years of service to be paid an additional “longevity differential” ranging from $.30/hour to $1.15/hour. 

*Wage increases for technicians average between 3% to 5% under the contract, with additional increases earned through the seniority based step system. Employees in certain job titles, such as respiratory therapist, will get an additional upgrade of $3 per hour. 

*An agreement was reached to establish a committee to review - and potentially upgrade -retiree health benefits . 
*The new contract creates a staffing committee with the power to recommend staffing ratios upon agreement between management and the local union’s committee members.

“..we have achieved our goal”
Local 5147 members entered contract negotiations determined to get their salaries up, and to win other contract improvements that would improve staffing conditions at their hospital. It did take down to the wire negotiations - the workers settled within 4 hours of their strike deadline - but their efforts proved successful.


“Our goal was to win an agreement with management on wages, benefits and policies that would help our hospital to recruit and retain the most experienced nurses and caregivers,” stated HPAE Local 5147 President Joanne Bauman. “With our new contract, we believe that we have achieved our goal.”


“ Competitive salary and benefits, as well as decent working conditions, are the keys to hiring and retaining experienced staff. Our new contract gives management the tools to do just that.”