Shore Medical Center RNs to Management: Without Significant Progress, Strike Will Begin In Two Weeks
SOMERS POINT, N.J., Sept. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, members of the Shore Nurses Union/NYSNA at Shore Medical Center announced that without significant progress during the next two days of scheduled contract talks, a 10-day strike notice is imminent. The result would be nurses taking to the picket lines as early as the beginning of October as they fight for quality patient care for South Jersey residents. This action is necessary because of management's continued unwillingness to bargain in good faith as well as unfair labor practices committed in violation of federal law. It would be the largest-ever nurses strike in South Jersey history. The announcement reluctantly comes after fruitless negotiating sessions held with management and a federal mediator following the nurses' overwhelming vote in August to authorize a strike.
"Every nurse and healthcare professional here cares deeply about giving our patients safe and quality care. We want to make sure that when you come to the hospital, you have the best possible care," said Nancy Burton, a case management RN at Shore. "Our nurses believe that we must do things differently in this hospital if we are to provide our patients with the quality care that they so rightfully deserve."
RNs in the bargaining unit, which represent just over 340 nurses, have presented proposals to management that would raise patient care standards and provide affordable healthcare for caregivers. In response to management's unwillingness to bargain in good faith, the RNs have launched "Patients Above Profits", a new public campaign to support the Shore Medical RNs in their fight to secure a fair contract with management. The past 11 months of bargaining have indicated that management has no intention of offering a fair contract that benefits the nurses at Shore and the patients that they serve. To the contrary, management has committed numerous unfair labor practices in violation of federal law by delaying and failing to provide information essential to negotiations, restraining RNs' rights to wear union buttons and to criticize Shore, and threatening RNs with termination if they strike.
"The registered professional nurses of Shore Medical Center have sent management a very clear message about how serious we are about maintaining quality patient care," said Suzanne Jenkins, a case management RN at Shore Medical Center. "Safe patient care is a basic human right and all nurses should have a say in how patient care is delivered. Who better than the person who does the job of caring every day to have that input."
Management has presented proposals that threaten to destabilize the workforce at the hospital, as Shore Medical Center is currently facing a serious recruitment and retention issue, which – if not addressed – can lead to a severe nursing shortage. These proposals can weaken the hospitals ability to recruit nurses in what will be highly competitive environment. Shore nurses are asking that hospital management drop the economic takeaways from their proposals that drive away experienced nurses. Recruitment and retention of highly-trained nurses in Southern New Jersey will become a dire issue if these major economic takeaways are implemented. This will have a direct impact on patient care.
NJ Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3rd District) issued the following statement in support of Shore RNs: "I have said time and again across New Jersey that a nurse's life is not easy. Nurses are the ones who tend to our sick and vulnerable all day, every day. That is why I am standing with Shore Medical nurses – because they stand with those who try to create better working conditions and services for patients. It is never acceptable to have the quality of healthcare be driven by the bottom line. It should always be about what is best for the patient. That is what Shore Medical nurses want and why they are fighting for a fair and reasonable contract. They deserve good benefits and the knowledge that they can be secure in their retirement. It is time that Shore Medical management do the right thing."
Bob McDevitt, President of UNITE HERE Local 54, issued the following statement in support of Shore RNs: "What we are seeing at Shore Medical Center represents an all too familiar pattern of management in Atlantic County protecting their own interests over the well being of working people. Shore Medical nurses are among the most hard working, dedicated people you will find. They aren't just nurses, they are members of our community. They are our friends and our family. UNITE HERE Local 54 fully supports them in their efforts to secure a fair contract. We hope that Shore Medical management will do the right thing and put patients over profits."
Health Professionals and Allied Employees President Ann Twomey issued the following statement in support of Shore RNs: "Nurses throughout New Jersey work every day to provide the best care possible for our patients and our communities, but without the right resources and policies, the health and safety of patients can be put at risk. That is the fight here at Shore Memorial - nurses are fighting for a voice in patient care decisions, and for policies that keep qualified nurses at the bedside. On behalf of the 12,000 nurses and health care workers represented by HPAE, we stand with Shore Medical nurses as they fight for a fair contract that protects patients and recognizes the contribution of the nursing profession."
To learn more about the "Patients Above Profits" campaign, log on to http://www.patientsaboveprofits.com, follow us on Twitter @ShoreNurses and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/PatientsAboveProfits.
The Shore Nurses Union, an affiliate of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 37,000 members in New York and New Jersey. For more information, please visit our website at www.nysna.org.
SOURCE Shore Nurses Union/NYSNA
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