Local 5138 Negotiation Update, April 15, 2025

Today, April 15th, marked our 12th bargaining session with Hackensack Meridian, and our team has remained focused on staffing ratios and better wages. After several sessions of telling us they were working on a staffing proposal, Hackensack Meridian never even showed up to the negotiation table today with the staffing proposal they promised.

We have had our staffing proposal on the table since February 10th, yet Hackensack Meridian has continued to ignore it. We are not only bargaining for our nurses, we are also advocating for our patients and their safety.

When it comes to fair compensation, Hackensack Meridian has proposed only up to a 2% merit increase for this year, and up to a 1.5% merit increase for both 2026 and 2027. It’s time Hackensack Meridian respects our nurses and pays us what we deserve.

The contract expires on April 30th, and we have only three bargaining sessions left. It is time that Hackensack Meridian take our staffing and wage proposals seriously.

Please take action this week and participate in the strike vote, which began Tuesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. and runs through Thursday, April 17, at midnight. If you do not receive the email from AAA with voting instructions, please take the following action: Voters with missing PINS will be directed to request replacements by calling our Duplicate Hotline 1-800-529-5218 from 9 AM-5 PM Mon-Fri. This number is to be utilized only for PIN requests. Members may also make requests by e-mailing requests to Sacha Ulerio at [email protected].

Make your collective voice heard. VOTE YES!
For other union-related questions, contact us at [email protected].

In solidarity,

Your local 5138 Executive Board

Anna Pona, President
Sybil Schriever, Grievance Chair