Robert Wood Johnson Univ Hospital Nurses to Strike

Nurses Activism

Published

Registered nurses start strike August 24, 2006 at 7am at Robert Wood Johnson Univeristy Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ

Nurses reject contract proposal

Home News Tribune Online 08/17/06

By DAVID STEGON

STAFF WRITER

[email protected]

NEW BRUNSWICK-The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital nurses union yesterday overwhelmingly rejected the hospital's latest labor contract offer, opening the door for a strike to begin at 7 a.m. on Aug. 24, according to union officials.

"The membership is sending a clear message to the hospital that health-care coverage is just substandard, and they won't accept it," said Jeanne Clark, a spokeswoman for the nurses union and a nurse at the hospital for 16 years. "We've got more work to do."

The nurses rejected the revised contract by a vote of 616 to 252, with one member abstaining.

The nurses rejected the hospital's original offer by a 765-165 vote on July 27.

Specializes in ICU, Cardiac Cath/EPS Labs.

Paying THREE TIMES the regular rate apparently gets the hospital plenty of replacement nurses, but I wouldn't work as a replacement...Someone said you have to be careful when doing Travel Nursing, as the agency may not make it clear that you are going in during a strike...I disagree with being a substitute/replacement where the strike is warranted--as seems to be the case here--annoyed that replacements would undermine what nurses have worked for years to get---especially when the supposed nursing shortage should make it not so difficult to get a job with a fair employer....

I am so incredibly disgusted at the manner in which RWJ is handling this.

It's amazing how a group of administrative morons can make life difficult for everyone...but most notably for the patients and their families.

Here we have the nurses, health care professionals whose job it is to care for these patients, striking for what seem VERY valid reasons - and no one in administration gives half a damn. I'm so sorry for any of you who are going thru this!!

Sounds like a doctor needs to grow some testicles and say "we need OUR nurses back, and we need them now...so do what you have to do to get them back, and keep them."

Here in Dallas a few years ago we had an attending cardiovascular surgeon who came back from family vacation and noticed that he recognized exactly zero nurses on the night shift in the ICU. HE WOKE THE HOSPITAL PRESIDENT UP AT A LITTLE AFTER MIDNIGHT TO DISCUSS HIS DISPLEASURE. Needless to say, things changed very quickly after their little chat.

This is what happens when penny pinching morons are allowed to run a health care organization.

To all you RWJ nurses out there I wish you only the best. I know you're trying to do the best you can!! Hang in there.

vamedic4

Hoping for an end soon

Sounds like US Nursing Corp strikes (no pun intended) again. Having been on a picket line for a lengthy period of time a few years back, I'd never go to or allow a family member to be in a hospital that is on strike.

I am surprised about losing the Magnet statuts since Englewood (on strike for a month earlier this summer) didn't lose theirs.

Best of luck RWJ Nurses. Stay together on this. BE STRONG!!!!!

How did you lose your Magnet status, I thought that would be lost only if there was a definite labor violation???

I wish to correct my statement...as of yet we have not lost Magnet status as per out union president, but it is still a possibility. The union IS suing for unfair and/or illegal practices regarding some of the tactics used by hospital management and administration; on a few occasions during negotiations management walked through the hospital and made statements saying it was in the nurses' best interest to accept the contract and to "think of their families." Simillar letters were mailed out. Another letter was mailed out with a promise of specific changes they would make to the health care plan even before the changes were brought up in negotiations. These are clearly in violation due to the coercive nature of the communications. Also: during the strike the hospital has hired extra security personnel with video cameras filming us as we walk the picket lines. We are using these and other instances to back up our unfair labor practice complaint.

Turnout today was a bit lower, but still strong...the weather was terrible-lots of rain. We still stand strong....no more nurses crossed the line. We're hearing more complaints from family members about the level of care as we continue this fight; we want nothing more than to get back to providing the care they need.

I wish you the best of luck! It is heartbreaking to be on a picket line. We were out a long time. I would definetly get in touch with State Representatives and Senators. Write to every newspaper you can think of and let the public know that the real nurses of RWJ are on strike. It took intervention from the State (Department of Labor, I believe) to end our strike. The Department of Health is of little use. Their rules are very vague and they almost always side with hospitals. I'd suggest a picket sign with the DOH hotline # and also a picket sign with the # for Magnet. I would also have the union leadership contact each and every member of the board of the hospital and ensure they know what is goign on. Picket their businesses if need be. All of you should sign up with agencies or get per diem work elsewhere. I do not envy you and I know the struggle you are facing.

God bless you and your colleagues! I hope you get a fair contract when all is said and done.

Specializes in CCRN, CEN.

You girls and guys hang tough. Is there a fund set up? You have no worries about me crossing any line. Unions are the only way unless someone creates something else.

Quick update:

Sunday- still no talks scheduled in spite of our numerous requests to get back to the table. We don't need to be out on the line; as reports come in it's evident the hosptal is ill prepared for the situation regarding care of the patients. LET US GET BACK TO THE BEDSIDE!

One of our nurses, a union steward, was interviewed Saturday live on the radio, 1010WINS; one of the interviewers was trying to steer from the healthcare issue, the reason we are on strike. He kept referring to the erroneous and inflated salary numbers reported by the hospital. Our guy stood his ground and made it clear that this was not about salary but inadequate healthcare and unfair labor practices. We are trying to set up a news conference this week with some of the local media; we will have nurses there with their personal horror stories dealing with medical bills and penalty charges under our plan.

Thanks to all for the support and positive feedback as we continue the fight to get back where we belong-at the bedside taking care of our patients as the highly trained, dedicated,caring professionals we are!

The hospital is going to spin this so that the nurses look like the bad guys. Your Union leadership must call every available media outlet, newspapers, tv stations etc. Being in the NYC metro area should help. Have the Union try to find out if the hospital has any ties to any of the print media. If they do don't even bother contacting them. They will not print anything negative about the hospital. Go to the town council meetings of the towns near the hospital, have the union leadership (your local and the parent union) contact the state politicians. I wish Cody was still the Gov!!!!! but try Corzine. Have the union provide proof that there have been requests to meet and the hospital has said no. Get info about the US Nursing Corp out to the public. This is a war. The exec's in the hospital couldn't care less about those patients. They have the same mentality as car companies who put out a product they know will kill x number of people. The bottom line is it is the hospital administrations responsibility to safely staff the hospital with qualified and adequate numbers of nurses. It was their responsibility to close departments prior to the strike deadline and transfer patients out. They will not do that because they put on this "everything is wonderful here" spin. They don't want the public to know, or you for that matter, that they cannot function effectively without you.

Best of luck! Been there and it sucks!!! You and your colleagues will get through this.

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

If you have yet to read the book "From Silence to Voice" now is the time to do so to get YOUR message across:

From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know and Must Communicate to the Public by Bernice Buresh & Suzanne Gordon

the only communication guidebook designed expressly for nurses to help them educate the public about their important work and gain greater respect and public support for it. This classic work is now available in a 2nd edition containing much new and up-to-date material!

Website:

http://www.silencetovoice.com/

Quick update:

Sunday- still no talks scheduled in spite of our numerous requests to get back to the table. We don't need to be out on the line; as reports come in it's evident the hosptal is ill prepared for the situation regarding care of the patients. LET US GET BACK TO THE BEDSIDE!

One of our nurses, a union steward, was interviewed Saturday live on the radio, 1010WINS; one of the interviewers was trying to steer from the healthcare issue, the reason we are on strike. He kept referring to the erroneous and inflated salary numbers reported by the hospital. Our guy stood his ground and made it clear that this was not about salary but inadequate healthcare and unfair labor practices. We are trying to set up a news conference this week with some of the local media; we will have nurses there with their personal horror stories dealing with medical bills and penalty charges under our plan.

Thanks to all for the support and positive feedback as we continue the fight to get back where we belong-at the bedside taking care of our patients as the highly trained, dedicated,caring professionals we are!

call nj 101.5 and ask to speak with craig carton and ray rossi about this.

rwj won't know what hit them.

8/29 update:

Still no progress regarding talks; the hospital still refuses to talk. We held a news conference in front of the hospital today with a local cable news station WMBC. A few of the nurses who had problems with their benfits spoke. Of note: nurse who had a double mastectomy/reconstructive surgery due to cancer denied coverage. Why? concidered cosmetic, not neccesary. Another nurse had gastric bypass surgery after years of weight problems, declining health and knee problems; after months of wrangling with insurance people and administration she still is stuck with tens of thousands in bills. Why? the proceedure was concidered not neccesary, inspite of a marked increase in her quality of life afterward. She regularly takes care of patients who undergo the EXACT SAME PROCEDURE that she underwent with full medical coverage! Another nurse's husband had complications after being diagnosed with cancer. He was emergently rushed to a local hospital (she live 45 minutes from RWJ) in septic shock. When the bill came in they were hit with thousands for the stay at the local hospital. when asked why the charges she was told her husband should have been stabalized and transfered to RWJ!

We have presented a plan that would provide full coverage no matter where an employee chooses to go and save the hospital 1.5 million dollars over the 3 year contract!!

Is that being greedy? Is being penalized for using another facility because of convenience or expedience fair? The hospital would like the public to think so. They continue to spin the same story with inflated inaccurate salary numbers and the increase in coverage-all to Robert Wood Johnson Hospitals. Convenient for them, but not for the rest of us who live up to an hour away.

Then move! or get another job! some people will say. We are a dedicated bunch. We love working at RWJ and enjoy the being part of a highly regarded institution. If we were greedy, we would be inside working with the SCABS doing overtime or earning the bonuses the hospital has tried to bribe some of the nurses with.

STANDING STRONG!!!!

update 8/30

Candelight vigil tonight in front of the hospital...close to 1000 showed up!! It was a very moving night; lots of support from people as they passed, beeping in spite of the "horn blowing prohibited" signs placed by the hospital. Family members leaving the hospital were beeping and raising victory signs as well!

some pics!!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM001990.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002004.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002006.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002003.jpg

The finger pointing has started a well; the hospital says in a recent article that union negotiators did not properly let the needs of the nurses be known to the hospital. A federal mediator is stepping in

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/NEWS/608300378&SearchID=73255381022728

Another vigil Labor Day night...if in the area come by, show your support!!

STILL standing strong

i got penalized for going to my surgeon for my breast biopsy and had to pay $2k for the procedure. since then I learned my lesson. I called the insurance company to give me an OB-gyn where I wont pay a penny and who is also "in network" of RWJUH plan. guess what? when I tried to make my appointment for prenatal check up the earliest day they are giving me is Sept 2006. by then I have already given birth. I raised this issue to John Patella who was doing his rounds around the hospital before we went on strike and he said "im sorry about that I will be honest with you, we dont have enough obstetricians and pediatricians in the circle. But we will add about 50 more doctors in the inner circle but Im so sorry that you wont be able to enjoy it".

:nono:

update 8/30

Candelight vigil tonight in front of the hospital...close to 1000 showed up!! It was a very moving night; lots of support from people as they passed, beeping in spite of the "horn blowing prohibited" signs placed by the hospital. Family members leaving the hospital were beeping and raising victory signs as well!

some pics!!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002001.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM001990.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002004.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002006.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/clcrtrn/IM002003.jpg

The finger pointing has started a well; the hospital says in a recent article that union negotiators did not properly let the needs of the nurses be known to the hospital. A federal mediator is stepping in

http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/NEWS/608300378&SearchID=73255381022728

Another vigil Labor Day night...if in the area come by, show your support!!

STILL standing strong

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