University Hospital In Newark, 3K Workers Agree On New Contracts

Eric Kiefer
·2 min read

NEWARK, NJ — University Hospital in Newark has reached deals with labor unions representing more than 3,300 of its 3,600 employees, administrators announced Tuesday.

The hospital has agreed on new contracts with all seven of its employee bargaining units that will carry into 2021. The three-year deals are retroactive to 2018, administrators said.

It’s the first time in more than two years that all of the members of the hospital’s union coalition had finalized agreements – a feat in itself, considering that negotiations took place in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

The bargaining units include:

  • Teamsters Local 97, which represents 1,637 clinical and administrative support workers

  • Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) Local 5089, representing 904 nurses

  • HPAE Local 5094, which represents 505 administrative personnel

  • Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1031, which represents 104 supervisory employees

  • International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68, representing 57 carpenters, plumbers, electricians and related trades

  • International Association of EMT's & Paramedics Local 200, representing 24 Emergency Medical Services supervisors

  • The Committee of Interns & Residents/SEIU, representing eight Podiatric Resident Physicians

“At a time of unprecedented public health challenges, University Hospital and its unions were willing to come together to reach financially responsible agreements that recognize the value of our extraordinary employees,” University Hospital President and CEO Shereef Elnahal said.

“Our agreements exemplify that good-faith negotiations with our union partners can yield responsible contracts that advance our collective mission for this community,” Elnahal added. “We value our sisters and brothers in labor at University Hospital, and their advocacy on behalf of this hospital has been invaluable for securing the resources we need to remain a vibrant, public hospital.”

The deals, which have been ratified, also got words of praise from union leaders.

“HPAE nurses and health professionals working at University Hospital value their roles fulfilling this historic institution’s mission as the only public hospital in the state of New Jersey,” HPAE President Debbie White said.

“During these challenging times in which we live, having an employer who is willing to work with us is a relief,” White said.

“CWA Local 1031 has negotiated several contracts with UHNJ since the dismantling of UMDNJ,” Kathleen Hernandez of CWA Local 1031 said.

“UHNJ, under the current leadership, continues to communicate and listen to the employees and unions,” Hernandez said. “While we do not always agree, the relationship is respectful. During the pandemic, we worked as partners.”

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This article originally appeared on the Newark Patch