Safe Staffing Newsletter #1

May 11th Rally for Safe Staffing in Trenton

Healthcare workers, patients and community activists will Rally in Trenton on May 11 to tell legislators to pass a law mandating enforceable safe staffing levels in New Jersey hospitals. To put it simply no one is safe when nurses have too many patients to care for at one time.

The staffing crisis has left healthcare on the brink of a collapse that will have dire consequences for the delivery of care. We all know the answer: Safe Staffing Standards! Now more than ever, we need to make our voices heard in Trenton. Safe staffing has always saved lives. Now, we need safe staffing to save healthcare.

Click here to sign up to join the Trenton Safe Staffing Rally on May 11. We are standing together—workers, patients, community members and advocates.

Bus Transportation provided for a $25.00 deposit (which will be reimbursed when you get on the bus). Reserve your seat today. Details on bus locations will be emailed before the event. Don’t be left out! Register by May 9th.

Safe Staffing in HPAE Contracts

In 2022, HPAE locals were successful in bargaining contracts with significant wage increases across New Jersey. Healthcare employers came to the table desperate to find ways to attract staff to their facilities. The problem is money alone is not the solution to fixing the staffing crisis, and unless we improve current working conditions, we will continue to see healthcare workers leaving their jobs.

In 2023, HPAE locals in bargaining will continue negotiating for solutions with individual employers going forward. For instance, in upcoming contract talks at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, NJ and Virtua Memorial Health in Mount Holly, NJ, our members will be putting forward proposals to improve staffing levels and other working conditions that can ease the strain that is exhausting our healthcare workforce. The staffing crisis at New Jersey hospitals needs a systemic approach to end the mass exodus of nurses and other healthcare professionals away from the bedside.

Collective bargaining and legislation are a means to achieve enforceable staffing levels at hospitals but it is our collective voice that gives us the power to win.

SAFE STAFFING: Make Your VOICE Heard.

Share your experiences with our current healthcare staffing crisis. New Jersey lawmakers need to hear directly from healthcare workers to understand how urgently frontline caregivers and their patients need safe staffing.

Click here to share your experience.

AFT Launches nationwide Safe Staffing Campaign

AFT launched a nationwide campaign to draw attention to and address the country’s healthcare staffing crisis, which is putting patients at risk. “Code Red: Understaffing = Patient Care Crisis” is a $1 million multifaceted, multiyear campaign involving over 100 AFT affiliates who will focus on the issue of inadequate staffing and hold healthcare corporations and the government accountable through education, outreach, advocacy, contract bargaining and legislation. The “Code Red” campaign was kicked off in Oregon, where two AFT affiliates—the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and the Oregon Nurses Association—are pushing for the passage of Oregon House Bill 2697 to enshrine safe staffing standards.

TAKE ACTION to protect workers striking for Safe Staffing.

Over the last 48 years, HPAE has seen many forms of labor disputes and never have we taken a job action lightly. Not only does a job action impact health care workers and their families, but also those receiving care. Contact your State Senators and Urge them to Support S-3215.

Due to several loopholes in New Jersey’s current laws governing unemployment benefits, coupled with an extremely long waiting period to qualify, workers locked out or on strike rarely ever actually receive intended benefits. Workers should not be penalized financially when they choose to stand up for Safe Staffing, better working conditions and patient safety by participating in a job action.