HPAE Statement on Jersey City Council Resolution Supporting Safe Staffing

HPAE commends the City Council in Jersey City for approving a resolution supporting Safe Staffing ratios mandate in NJ Hospitals

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

The City Council in Jersey City has passed a resolution supporting “safe staffing standards in collective bargaining agreements, and proposed legislation and hereby urges the NJ Legislature to pass the ‘Patient Protection and Safe Staffing Act,’” (S.2700/A.3683).

Unionized healthcare workers are demanding safe staffing ratios in their contracts, including HPAE Local 5030 at HMH Palisades Medical Center, HPAE Local 5186 at Christ Hospital and Local 5185 at Bayonne Medical Center.

HPAE President Debbie White, RN, said the resolution is important to support workers negotiating contracts as well as moving state legislators to pass a statewide law to establish staffing standards in New Jersey hospitals.

“Healthcare in New Jersey is in crisis,” White said. “The bills (S.2700/A.3683), when passed into law, will stop the mass exodus of healthcare workers out of our hospitals. It will also dramatically improve recruitment efforts, because nurses will always want to work where they will be less likely to be overwhelmed and stressed due to chronic understaffing.”

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