Nurses At Shore Medical Center Announce A One-Day Strike Date

SOMERS POINT, N.J., Oct. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nurses at Shore Medical Center today announced a one-day strike scheduled to begin on October 22^nd at 7am after management failed to offer a fair deal and refused to bargain in good faith after almost a year of negotiations.

This comes after the original one-day strike scheduled for October 8^th was postponed so the nurses could prepare to help the community if Hurricane Joaquin hit New Jersey.

Under the terms of the most recent contract, Shore Medical Center made millions of dollars, and its CEO was paid over $1.5 million according to 2013 data. Shore Medical would continue to make millions under the terms of a new contract proposed by the nurses. 

But, Shore's management wants more and has demanded changes to health benefits, retirement benefits, wages, and time-off benefits that would cost thousands of dollars per year per nurse. 

NJ Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-3^rd 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 said: "Shore Medical nurses have been put in a position where it seems like the only way to have Shore management come to the table with a reasonable offer is to strike. This is certainly not what Shore nurses want. They want to continue to provide the same level of high quality care they always have for the community, and under a contract that is fair.  Unfortunately, Shore management continues to put their own interests over the well-being of working people. UNITE HERE Local 54 will continue to fully support them in their efforts to a secure a fair contract."

Ann Twomey, President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees said: "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 we are seeing at Shore Medical Center. Nurses are fighting for a voice in patient care decisions, and for policies that keep qualified nurses at the bedside.  They have earned a fair contract that provides adequate benefits. 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."

Marcus King, President Teamsters, Local 331 said: "We stand strong with our brothers and sisters from the Shore Nurses Union. It's an outrage when hospital executives who make millions propose givebacks in retirement benefits, health benefits and time-off benefits as well as wage reductions – and that's happening at Shore Medical Center. We hope the Shore Nurses Union can secure a fair contract to avoid a strike. If not, the Teamsters are ready to support their efforts and will not cross the picket line."

Bill DeLorenzo, President of Atlantic City Professional Firefighters Local 198 said: "Nurses at Shore Medical Center are on the front lines 24/7, just as we are, helping residents of South Jersey in their time of need. We stand strong with them – as they fight for what is right and what is deserved: fair wages, affordable health benefits, and fair retirement benefits. The nurses leave their families every day to take care of those who need help, and we need to make sure they can take care of their families too. " 

The proposed numbers from hospital management are staggering from 125 fewer hours in time-off benefits per nurse to slashing the salaries of new nurses by 10% while hospital revenues and executive salaries increase.

These unrealistic demands will hurt the nurses, their families and, in the end, the whole South Jersey community, making it harder to recruit the best of the best for critical healthcare services.

In addition to refusing to engage in good faith bargaining, management has also violated federal law by:

• Delaying the release of vital information to union members for bargaining purposes;
• Prohibiting nurses from wearing union buttons or insignia, while allowing employees to wear other buttons and insignia;
• Parading strike replacements throughout the hospital, stating that these are your replacements when you go on strike.

The National Labor Relations Board has set a hearing date for these unfair labor practices for December 10, 2015.

Shore Medical Nurses Union has released a radio ad calling on the management at Shore Medical to negotiate a fair contract and avoid a strike. The ad began airing on September 29, and can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/shorenurses/patients-above-profits-a-message-from-shore-nurses-union.

Billboards have also been installed in Egg Harbor and Marmora to raise awareness of the campaign for a fair contract.

To learn more about the fight for a fair contract, go to: http://www.patientsaboveprofits.com/ 

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.

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SOURCE Shore Nurses Union/NYSNA