Unit of more than 700 nurses awaits union election outcome

Registered nurses at south jersey Healthcare have voted to form a union with Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), the AFT Healthcare affiliate in New Jersey. The nurses voted 299-279 in favor of the union on July 26.

A total of 67 ballots are being challenged. Many of the ballots involve newly hired case managers and nurse educators whose eligibility to vote has not been determined. The National Labor Relations Board will hold hearings on these ballots soon, and its decision will determine the outcome of the election.

“Unfortunately, hospital management has continued its campaign of denial and delay—keeping nurses from exercising their democratic rights,” HPAE president and AFT vice president Ann Twomey told the Bridgeton News.

“Ultimately, however, we believe the nurses will prevail and win their union rights.”

The organizing effort took more than a year. The 730 nurses at South Jersey Healthcare work in two large hospitals in Elmer and Vineland, as well as a satellite emergency department in Bridgeton. The multiple work sites and the large size of the unit made it difficult for the nurses to network and build their union, but organizers worked with the nurses one-on-one to educate them about the union and build strong personal relationships.

At the same time, hospital management created a very hostile working environment by holding “captive audience” meetings and individual sessions with supervisors to push aggressive anti-union messages. The hospital even tried to scare the nurses with the recently settled nurses’ strike at Englewood Hospital in northern New Jersey.

“Despite all the mean-spirited tactics of the hospital, the nurses have remained united and determined,” HPAE public policy director Jeanne Otersen told the
Press of Atlantic City.