Workers Reach Tentative Agreement with Buyer of Meadowlands Hospital; Agreement to Provide ‘Seamless’ Transition at Hospital Up for Sale

Contact: Ann Twomey (201)262-5005 or Jean Pierce (732) 841-2049

Secaucus, NJ – A tentative collective bargaining agreement has been reached covering more than 400 workers at Meadowlands Hospital, now in the process of being sold to MHA, LLC, a privately held company. Meadowlands Hospital is currently owned by Liberty Health System, and the sale has been under review by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Attorney General's office. The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), a NJ union representing nurses and health care workers at the hospital had been advocating for the negotiations, as part of the conditions of the sale.

The tentative agreement will be voted on by members of the HPAE Local 5147 on September 22, and details are being withheld until the ratification vote.

"This tentative agreement ensures continued quality care for the community by an experienced staff. It also provides workplace protections for the health care workers," said Ann Twomey, president of the 12,000 member HPAE. "Coming prior to final approvals of the sale of Meadowlands Hospital, this agreement represents important assurances from the prospective buyer for a seamless transition and for continued access to quality health care. We will also continue to advocate for the state to obtain written commitments to maintain our hospital and all of its services."

The first hearing for state approval of the sale was held in August, with a second hearing scheduled for September 21 at 6PM at Secaucus High School.

"Our primary goal has always been to protect our hospital, our patients and the caregivers," said JoAnne Dudsak, an RN and president of the HPAE local 5147 at Meadowlands. "We wanted to make sure that when the ownership changed, the same dedicated staff would be by our patients' bedsides. This agreement does that."

Workers at the hospital are expected to receive a "WARN' notice today, (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) a legally required notice that their employment with Liberty Health Systems will expire in no less than 60 days. The tentative agreement will assure that their jobs will be transitioned under the new owners of the hospital.