Union Leaders Testify at Senate Health Committee in Support of Safe Staffing Ratios

Union Leaders Testify at Senate Health Committee in Support of Safe Staffing Ratios

Labor Unions Call on Trenton Policymakers to make Patient Safety and Retention of Healthcare Workers a Top Priority

Please attribute the following statement to HPAE President Debbie White, RN

“We are facing a staffing crisis in our hospitals. But there is a clear, simple and proven answer- Safe staffing legislation.

Research over the past 20 years has shown that, for patients, safe staffing ratios decrease deaths, injuries, negative outcomes like hospital acquired infections, bed sores and medical errors while increasing patient satisfaction—because patients actually have an available nurse.

For nurses, safe staffing slows the endless migration of nurses out of hospitals, increases job satisfaction and decreases burn out and injuries.

Meanwhile, for hospitals, research shows that Safe Staffing is cost effective. Better outcomes for patients equal better reimbursement. And Safe Staffing decreases costs associated with constant turnover of staff. So, Safe Staffing ACTUALLY Saves hospitals money.”

Link to testimony by HPAE President Debbie White, RN in support of S.304 before the New Jersey Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee

Please attribute the following statement to USW Local 4-200 Healthcare Workers Council President Judy Danella, RN

“Local 4-200 nurses stand in full support of the Safe Staffing bill. We were on strike for five months to win staffing contract language. But that is not enough. We need safe staffing laws.”

Please attribute the following statement to Dennis Trainor, Vice President, Communications Workers of America, District 1

“CWA District 1 represents over 20,000 healthcare workers. Our members deserve safe staffing, especially as the painful memories and reality of the COVID-19 pandemic continue today. Staffing ratios are essential to the safety and well-being of our patients, we can not allow hospitals to maximize profits by short-staffing our members which will always take away from their ability to deliver quality care. Adequate staffing can be the first line of patient defense. CWA supports strong legislation to establish safe staffing ratios that will ensure the safety of patients and our members.”

For more information, contact: Michael Allen, (646) 436-7556.