HPAE Local 5138 Bargaining Update: Sessions #9 and #10

HPAE Local 5138 met with HMH on May 4th & 5th in Long Branch, NJ. The Union had many bargaining unit members present on both days to tell their stories of short & unsafe staffing levels, and safety & workplace violence issues and concerns across the table to HMH’s legal counsel and administrators. HMH was quite moved and appreciative of the members coming to share these stories & issues. The Local Executive Board wants to thank these courageous nurses for sharing and shedding light on these serious issues to our employer about the struggles all our members & patients face, day in and day out, 365 days every year.

In the meantime, your support is paramount in order to continue to fight for & ratify this next contract.

We have tentative agreements on a few more proposals from bargaining these past 2 (two) days. We continue to discuss unsafe staffing, wage issues, and the health and safety of our members. Our next meeting dates are scheduled for May 30, 31 and June 1, 2023, which exceeds our contract expiration date of May 15, 2023. Today, both parties agreed in writing to extend the existing contract until 7am on June 2, 2023.

On this Sunday, May 7th from 12 pm-1 pm, there will be a mobile billboard sponsored by HPAE that will be parked along the hospital with a message supporting our fight for safer staffing for New Jersey. Please go out on your lunch or break, take pics with your co-workers; for those who are off, have your unit come as a group with family and friends to show support and take pictures.

Please register at www.hpae.org to attend HPAE’s Staffing Rally in Trenton on May 11, 2023 from 11am to 2pm. There are plenty of seats on the free bus that will be leaving the K-Mart parking lot in Manahawkin promptly at 9am. Registration is necessary as boxed lunches will be provided.

Saturday, May 13, 2023, Local 5138 & HPAE will be hosting an Informational Picketing in front of SOMC from 10 am-12 pm, just as we did in 2020, to let our community know that we are fighting for their safety in our hospitals.

Please contact Sherill at 609-661-3989 or email local5138@hpae.org for more information.

Let Hackensack Meridian Health Know

RESPECT US, PROTECT US & SUPPORT US