Hundreds of nurses strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick
NEW BRUNSWICK – Chants and car horns filled the air as hundreds of nurses marched on the picket line at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital early Friday morning.
“Our members remain deeply committed to our patients,” said Judy Danella, president of United Steel Workers Local 4-200, the union that represents the hospital's more than 1,700 nurses.
"However, we must address urgent concerns, like staffing," she said. "We need enough nurses on each shift, on each floor, so we can devote more time to each patient and keep ourselves safe on the job."
The union notified the hospital of a strike on July 24, giving management the required 10-day notice.
The main issues in contract talks have been staffing levels, salaries, lack of retirement medical benefits, and a cap on medical insurance costs.
More: RWJ New Brunswick nurses move closer to strike after contract talks break down
Danella said that the local remains ready to continue bargaining and invited management to join the union at the table.
“Nursing is more than a job for most of us,” said Danella. "It’s a mission. Our top priority is negotiating a fair contract so we can return to patient care.”
"RWJUH is already among the highest-staffed hospitals in the state and our nurses are currently the highest-paid in New Jersey, based on available public data," said a hospital spokesperson. "Our offers would have increased both."
But the union disputes that number, saying that while the salaries of new nurses are in line with other hospitals, veteran nurses' pay still lags.
The hospital has invested more than $30 million in a replacement nursing workforce to ensure uninterrupted patient care for an extended period of time, potentially up to 60 days.
The hospital said that it was "deeply disappointed that the union has decided to take this extreme action" and that it "should not have come to this."
A RWJUH representative said that the hospital has been "negotiating in good faith" and "has done everything it could to avert a strike."
"We want safe staffing ratios," said Sophia Mocci, a 24-year-old ICU nurse at the hospital. "We do not want to be short-staffed every single day because our patients are the ones who suffer. They deserve better than what Robert Wood gives us."
Louise Gurgui, a nurse that has worked at the hospital for 40 years, said that "since COVID, things have really gone downhill dramatically."
She said that young nurses are leaving hospitals due to how strenuous the conditions are.
"The patients suffer, we suffer," Gurgui said. "It's just got to stop."
The hospital said that its Aug. 2 offer addresses union staffing concerns. The union has not responded to the offer.
Email: alewis@gannett.com
Alexander Lewis is an award-winning reporter and photojournalist whose work spans many topics. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Nurses strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick
