The National Labor Relations Board has rejected an appeal filed by South Jersey Healthcare against the nurses' union vote, ending the appeal process and paving the way for union negotiations to begin shortly. The victory adds 750 members to the state's largest union of nurses and healthcare workers, Health Professionals and Allied Employees/AFT.

In July, the nurses at South Jersey Healthcare voted 299-279 for representation by the HPAE. The unanimous decision by the NLRB on Jan. 30 rejected the employer's objections to the union election and included a ruling to certify the union.

"This decision is an enormous step for nurses at South Jersey Healthcare as they sought to gain a voice in their working conditions and patient care," said HPAE president and AFT vice president Ann Twomey. "We look forward to working with SJH in negotiating a fair contract that protects nurses and serves this community well. We are grateful to our elected officials and community leaders, who supported us all along the way to this decision."

The next step for the hospital and the union will be to establish a bargaining process to reach a collective bargaining agreement for the nurses. Nurses at South Jersey Healthcare work in two large hospitals in Elmer and Vineland as well as a satellite emergency department in Bridgeton.

February 2, 2007