Meadowlands Hospital's nurses campaign for 10-year pledge of job security and no service cutbacks from new owner

Fearful of layoffs when the new owners take over the Meadowlands Hospital, the Emerson-based nurses union, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, has collected 700 signatures on an online petition seeking to "protect our community hospital."

The union, which represents about 400 employees at Meadowlands, wants all existing services to be maintained for the next 10 years - including job security for all staffers.

Jeanne Otersen, HPAE public policy director, argued MHA has declined to provide any proposal in a legally binding document.

"You can't take a nonprofit and sell it for profit," Otersen said. "They need to set the conditions of the sale."