Local 5131 Union Update: Arbitration Win!

We are writing to offer some explanation regarding an email received by all members earlier this week. The email would have come from Denise Lambrecht on the afternoon of Tuesday, 10/8, with the subject line Arbitrator Union Nurses. Many members have asked us about it.

That email is the direct result of a grievance and unfair labor practice charge, jointly filed by HPAE Locals 5131 and 5621, to address serious concerns with the way Inspira handled the closure of the Elmer maternity department and the merger of the Elmer maternity RN positions into the Mullica Hill Maternal-Child Health department back in 2024.

An arbitrator heard the case and ruled with the union, determining that Inspira violated both the contract and the National Labor Relations Act. When an employer is found to have violated its employees’ rights under the NLRA, the employer is often required to post a notice that includes an explanation of those rights and a promise not to repeat the violation.

Rather than simply having the notice posted on a bulletin board or a doorway somewhere that may or may not be visible to our members, HPAE requested that the notice be emailed out to employees individually so that all RNs at these two Locals would be made aware of their rights under the NLRA.

If you have further questions about the email or about that case, please feel free to contact one of us for further information.

In Solidarity,

Your Local Executive Board