Nurses’ Union Issues Call for Mediation in Negotiations with Newton Hospital Issues 30-day Notice of Dispute

For Immediate Release: July 23, 2010
Contact: Jeanne Otersen (201)262-5005 cell (201)280-9279

Emerson, NJ

Using the legal channels at their disposal, the union representing 300 Registered Nurses at Newton Memorial Hospital officially requested federal mediation in their negotiations with hospital management. The notice to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is an indication that nurses believe the negotiations have been stalled and outside assistance to help reach a contract is needed. The FMCS notice is required by law prior to bringing in a federal mediator. The union, the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), said the notice was triggered by the limited number of upcoming bargaining dates agreed to by the hospital.

“For more than eight months, we have come to the bargaining table with our patients and their care as our priority – seeking policies that would help us establish strong staffing guidelines; policies to help us recruit and retain qualified nurses; and policies that ensure our right to speak up for and participate in assuring quality patient care,” said Lisa Arbolino, a Registered Nurse and member of the HPAE bargaining committee. “Needless to say, we were disappointed when hospital management only agreed to 2 days of bargaining in August. That slows down our progress, and leaves too many issues unresolved. It is way past time that nurses had a contract that protected our rights, our patients and our profession.”

Nurses expressed concern with a pattern of stalling by the hospital – pointing to the months of delay in winning their right to a vote for the union in early 2009, caused by hospital legal challenges and hearings. When the nurses finally voted in May of 2009, the hospital filed further challenges, delaying the official vote count by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certifying the union until August of 2009. Bargaining between the nurses and hospital management began in November of 2009. Among the issues are protected union rights, retirement security, restrictive sick leave policies and staffing levels.

“We are looking for every way possible to resolve our contract and move forward with continuing to build our hospital’s reputation for quality care – in collaboration with our hospital. We hope they would meet us in that spirit, and we believe mediation may help at this point, concluded Arbolino.”

HPAE is NJ’s largest union of nurses and health professionals, representing more than 12,000 healthcare workers at hospitals throughout NJ, and its members regularly advocate for laws and regulations providing quality patient care and health and safety protections for healthcare workers.
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