1,500+ Nurses at Robert Wood Johnson Univ. Hospital, NJ approve strike to begin 8/4/2023

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

After three months of failed negotiations, nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University  (RWJ) Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ voted on Monday 7/10/23 to authorize a strike following the rejection of the hospital's recent proposal for a new contract.    The nurses union United Steel Workers Local 4-200  state their top issue is inadequate nurse staffing. Other issues are higher pay, capping health insurance cost and continuing heath insurance for retirees.  The nurses' contract expired June 30th with the strike set to start 7AM on Friday August 4, 2023.  RWJ hospital administration is contracting agencies for "full replacement" nurses.

Their current contract can be viewed at:  https://usw4200.org/member-resources/

Unions FAQ section shows additional pay/hr:

• Charge nurse:$2.00
• Preceptor: $1.50
• ANCC Certification: $2.00
• MSN: $1.23
• Holiday pay: 1 1/2x hourly rate
• Longevity pay 10yrs+: 0.25c/hr added every 5 years.
• Shift Differentials:
  Evening $5.47 per hour
  Nights $6.84 per hour
• Clinical Ladder differential also available.

Nurses at New Brunswick hospital authorize a strike

Quote

...The nurses are also seeking higher pay, retirement benefits and caps on insurance costs. In a statement, the hospital said it's extremely disappointed with the vote and has the utmost respect for the nursing staff, who are now working with an expired contract. The hospital has been given a 10-day notice period starting Tuesday, allowing the sides to continue negotiating....

RWJ Strike Plan:  Rutgers RWJ Med School Asks Students To Volunteer In Nursing Strike

Quote

A spokesman for RWJUH said the med school students are not being asked to do any actual nursing work; they will answer call bells and check on patients. He said the students will only serve as volunteers during the "transition" period while a full replacement nursing staff is put in place.

But the Rutgers RWJ Medical School students say they are being used as free labor, and to undermine the nurses who are about to strike next Friday....But Thursday night, hundreds of Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson med school students signed a petition voicing their anger over it, "and more are signing every minute," said the med student....

..."We are working hard to avert a strike," said the hospital spokesman. "RWJUH has contracted with national nursing agencies for a full replacement nursing staff to maintain full hospital operation...

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

What is going on with this now?

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

CrunchRN said:

What is going on with this now?

Nurses on strike picket outside Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey for 4th day

Ongoing....staffing still main sticking point.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Strike continues 2 hrs away from my PA home...

NJBIZ 8/7/2023

Nurses strike continues at RWJUH
 

Quote

...The union says it is about more than just money – calling on hospital management to address concerns such as staffing.....

...In a statement released Aug. 7, Wendy Gottsegen, RWJUH spokesperson, said that the hospital remains open, operational and fully staffed.

RWJUH said it is committed to reaching a fair and equitable resolution with the striking nurses.

"We did everything we could to avert a strike, including twice accepting the union's demands, offering to increase nurses' pay and staffing, to go to arbitration or submit to a board of inquiry that were rejected, and even extending a new offer last Wednesday to further address their staffing concerns that was met with silence,” Gottsegen continued. "We are deeply disappointed that United Steel Workers 4-200, the union representing our nurses, decided to take this extreme action. No one benefits from a strike, least of all, our nurses. We have spoken to the union about establishing a meeting time to join us at the table and continue negotiating in good faith. No such meeting has been set.”...

...The union, though, said it remains ready to continue bargaining and that it has invited management to join them at the table.

"The USW continues to urge RWJ management to return to the table and bargain a fair contract that addresses nurses' urgent concerns around safe staffing. As management now hires strike breakers, our reports indicate that it's following staffing guidelines union members have long urged, demonstrating it understands the essential nature of staffing,” USW District 4 Director Dave Wasiura told NJBIZ in a statement. "Now, we're asking RWJ to extend those same safeguards to its loyal nurses who remain, as ever, united in their commitment to the highest standards of patient care.”...

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Both sides met with a federal mediator on Wednesday.

8/9/2023 CBS News

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital says nurses' union rejected hospital's latest offer

Quote

....Replacement nurses were brought in for at least 60 days.

That is a HUGE financial commitment on hospitals side.  I've usually seen 2 weeks in prior nurse strikes.  Surmise they are expecting a long strike or attempt to break union - many nurses unions are stronger today after dealing with 2 years of COVID and hospital "business" decisions.

 

Nurses hold candlelight vigil outside Robert Wood John University Hospital on 5th day of strike

Quote

...Holding a candlelight vigil, they walked in solidarity.

"This will help everybody that's nurses get what they need to support their patients," nurse Marie Ciufo said.

"We have no staffing, no supplies, and this is every day," another nurse said.

"Some days I wake up and I'm like, I do not want to go to work," said nurse Nadine Elshrif, who has been on the job for less than a year.

She and others are not backing down on the fight for better staffing and more money.

"The turnover has been very high, and I think it's time the hospital kind of self-reflects for a second and asks themselves why," nurse Zoulikha Bakir said....

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Strike now in 3rd week as political support for the striking nurses continues to grow.

Week Two: Support for Striking RWJUH Nurses Grows

Quote

...Over the weekend and through a high energy rally on Monday night, United Steel Workers Nurses Local 4-200 got a major show of support from elected officials as well as from New Jersey AFL-CIO New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech and Rebecca Damon, the president of New York SAG-AFTRA, which is itself been on strike for a month....

...Back in the Spring, HPAE, the state's largest nurses' union, with the strong support of the NJ AFL-CIO, held a major rally launching a statewide campaign to get Trenton to enact nurse-to-patient staffing ratios as was done in California in 2004. In the years since, peer reviewed studies documented that California saw greatly improved patient outcomes, workplace safety, as well as nurse retention.

The renewed push for the staffing requirements comes as a national survey predicted New Jersey would be shy 11,400 nurses by 2030, ranking it in the top ten states with a severe shortfall. Also, in that crisis mix Connecticut (27,926), New York (18,784), and Pennsylvania (16,430)....

Rep. Pallone Brings Support, Hope to Striking RWJUH Nurses ...

Quote

2 days ago — Frank Pallone Jr. brought support and maybe even a sliver of hope as he visited with striking Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital nurses.,,,

...Pallone's efforts to act in a sort of mediation role come as the nurses continue to push for better staffing, a bump in pay, a cap on health insurance premiums and other items.

Pallone's appearance on the nurse's picket line Friday afternoon came after state Sen. Joe Vitale (D-19) addressed the nurses earlier in the week.

The nurses' biggest supporter might just be Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Union President Judy Danella said she recently had a phone conversation with the Vermont senator.

Sanders declined her invitation to join the picket line, but is putting the final touches on a letter that will be delivered to the administration at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

She said the letter urges the hospital "to support the nurses and have the nurses go back to work.”...

August 16 – Both sides met with the federal mediator without success.

4/17/23- RWJUH "Community Newsletter"

Quote

Our Nurses are a Top Priority
Today. Tomorrow. Always.

...Costs of a Strike
This nursing strike has significant economic consequences for both us and for our nurses. We have already paid more than $25 Million for our replacement nurses with the highest levels of certification and experience in acute care and specialized clinical areas.

These funds could be better utilized for patient care, staff wages, and improvements throughout the hospital. Sadly, this will also deeply affect our nurses and their families, with lost wages and benefits....

All that money could have been given to their OWN STAFF.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

8/29/23

RWJUH Cuts Off Health Insurance For Nurses On Strike, Starting Friday
 

Quote

 

..."As of September 1, RWJUH nurses must pay for their health benefits through COBRA," said RWJ spokeswoman Wendy Gottsegen. "This hardship, in addition to the loss of wages throughout the strike, is very unfortunate. We hope the union considers the impact a prolonged strike is having on our nurses and their families."

The nurses have not been paid their salary while they are on strike. And now their health insurance will be cut off starting this Friday; they will have to obtain extended health insurance on their own by filing with COBRA. Even then, COBRA only allows them to receive health insurance for a limited time.

Also, filing with COBRA is very expensive: News 12 reports this will cost the nurses anywhere from $700 up to $2,500 a month per nurse.

Gottsegen said the hospital warned the approximately 1,700 nurses before the strike began on Aug. 4 they would lose health insurance if the strike continued into September. A spokeswoman for United Steel Workers 4-200 did not immediately respond....

When I went on COBRA in 2018,  my cost was $1750,00 month... will be top amount for family coverage for those with longevity.  Last negotiation was August 16th.

Striking RWJ Nurses Ask Gov. Murphy To Get More Involved

So far, Gov. Phil Murphy has not intervened in the strike at all, both the union and hospital administration said.

Quote

 

"United Steelworkers call on all our elected officials, including Gov. Murphy, to stand with working people and support the unfair labor practice strike at Robert Wood Johnson," said United Steel Workers district 4 director Dave Wasiura on Thursday.

The nurses are asking for higher pay raises than what the hospital has offered them, and for the hospital to increase staffing.

"It's time for Gov. Murphy to show he also prioritizes our community by actively supporting members of USW Local 4-200," said the union leader. ...

 

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

One month later, RWJ Nurses Strike continues--- main point STAFFING levels.

When will striking Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital nurses return to work?

Quote

...A primary point of contention in the talks is the hospital apparently penalizing nurses who call out sick, something the union would like to see removed, Danella said.

She said the hospital maintains nurses take turns calling out sick to get a monetary benefit.

"We want the standards without all the penalties the hospital is imposing," Danella said. "There is no nurse that is going to call out purposely to harm her co-workers and get more money. We get sick benefits because we work in an environment where we will get sick with COVID, we will get sick with respiratory infections, we will get sick."

Another point of contention is the ratio between nurses and patients.

Danella said the ratio is about 1 to 3 nurses to patients in critical care areas, 1 to 6 for nurses giving chemotherapy, and in the emergency room the ratio can be 1 to 8, 9, or 10. The union wanted a 1 to 5 ratio in the medical surgery area, 1 to 2 in the intensive care areas, and to take into account there are some patients in intensive care who need 1 to 1 care, but that was rejected by the hospital, Danella said....

Keep strong.  One to 8-10 in an ER these days????  Have been in my local community teaching hospital  2x this year  with family: 1 to 5 is their staffing level, and it showed.