STRIKE VOTE at SOMC on April 15-17!

After over a month of negotiations with HMH, we have made some progress on important issues. However, the company continues to insist that there is no staffing shortage at SOMC, and has refused to budge on our demand for competitive wages. This is unacceptable, and we need to send corporate a message that SOMC nurses need significant improvements on staffing and pay!

If HMH hasn’t made significant progress on these issues at the negotiations table by Tuesday, April 15, we will be holding a strike vote to show how serious and united we are in our demand for a better Southern Ocean Medical Center. If passed, this vote would give our elected Negotiations Committee the authorization to call for Union actions up to and including a strike, but does not necessarily mean that we will strike.

The vote itself is an important action and will send a powerful message! In order to make sure that everyone is informed before they cast their ballot, we will be holding two membership meetings on Tuesday, April 15 at the Holiday Inn (151 NJ-72, Manahawkin) to update our members on negotiations and answer any questions. After these meetings, a virtual strike vote will be conducted using a link that will be provided later. Voting will continue through April 17.

Will you stand with your coworkers and fight for a fair contract by voting YES to authorize a strike?

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/Zp8HBVgdUrcuRXhD6

In solidarity,

Your local 5138 Executive Board

Anna Pona, President
Colleen Pignatelli, Vice President
Sybil Schriever, Grievance Chair