RWJ nurses union gives 10-day strike notice

U.S.A. New Jersey

Published

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/middlesex/index.ssf?/base/news-1/115467083581360.xml&coll=1

Contract issue is requirement that health care procedures be done in New Brunswick

Friday, August 04, 2006

BY SUE EPSTEIN

Star-Ledger Staff

The union representing the nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick notified the hospital administration yesterday that its members will strike in 10 days if they do not have a new contract.

The notification, required under federal and state law to give the hospital enough time to prepare emergency plans to care for its patients, was filed after a day of negotiations Wednesday failed to produce a new three-year pact, according to Leslie Curtis, the union's chief negotiator.

The main issue separating the two sides is the hospital's proposed health care plan that requires the nurses to get all of their and their family's nonemergency medical and dental procedures at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick or pay a deductible of $1,000 per procedure.

Curtis said many of the nurses don't live in Middlesex County and need to have doctors and facilities closer to their homes to use without having to travel back to the hospital. She said the nurses also complain that there is an extensive waiting time for procedures -- sometimes six to eight weeks before they can be scheduled.

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now what?

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

That's really terrible to try to force them to go in-house for all medical procedures. Like the article says, not everyone lives in the vacinity of New Brunswick.

I think nurses unions are great. I'm a little intimidated going into a different RWJ facility where the nurses aren't unionized.

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I work at RWJ....things look grim. We are to strike on Monday 8/14 at 8:30 if an aggreement is not reached. As of the time of my writing this (5:10 pm 8/9) no contract, no discussions. The hospital won't budge significantly on any of the issues we are most concerned about. It looks like it's really gonna happen this time around.

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Specializes in sub acute, ALF. Currently in RN school.

I just wanted to say good luck to the nurses at RWJ. I used to work there as a CCT. My last year there they were going to strike (or did...cannot remember)....

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

I hate hospital strikes. Our Lady of Lourdes went on strike I guess 3 years ago and it didn't do anything for the nurses there. They hired agency nurses to fill the void and after 2-3 weeks many nurses went back on the job or went and got other jobs at other hospitals, leaving a workplace they've had for years. The hospital STILL has never resolved the contract issues and the nurses are STILL on strike. Every once in a while you'll still see a couple of picketers trying to fight for the nurses rights, but it's really a shame to realize that a hospital would not value the work of nurses so much to just let them go.

As a "Little Bob" employee, my support goes out to you "Big Bob" nurses out there.

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Specializes in FNP.
I hate hospital strikes. Our Lady of Lourdes went on strike I guess 3 years ago and it didn't do anything for the nurses there. They hired agency nurses to fill the void and after 2-3 weeks many nurses went back on the job or went and got other jobs at other hospitals, leaving a workplace they've had for years. The hospital STILL has never resolved the contract issues and the nurses are STILL on strike. Every once in a while you'll still see a couple of picketers trying to fight for the nurses rights, but it's really a shame to realize that a hospital would not value the work of nurses so much to just let them go.

I dont want to hyjack the thread but I wanted to say that Lourdes was on strike for two years and just this June the nurses voted to get rid of the union, just FYI :)

GOOD LUCK to all of the Robert Wood Employees, keep us informed!!!

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Specializes in FNP.

Did anything happen?

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Specializes in Orthopedics/Med-Surg, LDRP.

They settled ahead of the strike:

http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-4/11554447044100.xml?starledger?nnj&coll=1

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The strike starts Thursday August 24 at 7am. Last negotiation talks failed on Sunday August 20. Health care benefits are the issue.

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Specializes in community, mental health.

Robert Wood prepares for nurses' strike

Home News Tribune Online 08/22/06

STAFF REPORT

NEW BRUNSWICK — Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is gearing up for Thursday's impending nurse's strike by bolstering security and taking other precautions for employees, according to the health center.

Full service is expected to be offered during the strike called by United Steelworkers Local 4-200.

A special number has also been established for employees with information and updates about the strike, scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. The number, (732) 253-3691, can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Hospital officials have said replacement nurses will be at the ready, while other contingency plans are being made to bring little disruption to hospital services.

The nurses's union recently rejected the hospital's latest labor contract offer by an overwhelming margin. The contract dispute has largely centered around health-care benefits.

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.

Good for the nurses!!!

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