HPAE statements on Local 5138 Nurses at Southern Ocean Medical Center ratifying a 3-year contract

HPAE President Debbie White, RN, and HPAE Local 5138 President Anna Pona, RN, issued the following statements in light of members at Southern Ocean Medical Center ratifying a three-year contract with Hackensack Meridian Health:

HPAE Local 5138 President Anna Pona, RN:

“We are hopeful that Hackensack Meridian will reach a settlement with our sister HPAE local at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Now is not the time to be locked in a battle with our healthcare heroes.”

HPAE President Debbie White, RN:

“On behalf of the 1,500 nurses represented by HPAE at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Southern Ocean Medical Center, I am pleased to hear that HMH met the demands of nurses at Southern Ocean Medical Center. Now is the time to focus on the significantly larger hospital of Jersey Shore, the flagship hospital in the southern region. Nurses are demanding protections to ensure that all workers and patients are safe as we continue to battle COVID-19. As a larger level 2 trauma center there are more specialty areas, more critical patients and higher demands at Jersey Shore. Now with one contract settled at Southern Ocean, we expect HMH will continue to work with their unionized nurses to come to an agreement that will ensure safety protections for our entire region.”

For more information, please contact:
Michael O. Allen
646.436.7556
mallen@hpae.org