Your bargaining committee began negotiations with SBMC on September 24, 2009 and we have had five (5) bargaining days with the hospital. We have exchanged our proposals and engaged in many discussions over the proposals.

In the five (5) days there have been many discussions relating to staffing. We did propose staffing language for nurse/patient ratios as outlined in the staffing bill that was presented in Trenton. Currently the hospital is not willing to agree to our language for the nurse/patient ratios.

NJNU has also proposed to update the layoff language to make it a more equitable process. The hospital countered with an elaborate and very restrictive plan in which nurses would be limited to where they could be placed in the event of a layoff. We found this unacceptable and will continue to discuss more equitable options for the layoff language.

We also had extensive conversations regarding furloughs of nurses and the role of the PCC when a furlough occurs where on occasion a PCC will have a patient assignment while a bargaining unit nurse will be furloughed. Management values the PCC’s due to their flexibility to do their management job as well as our jobs. We proposed that the PCC should not be doing the work of the bargaining unit member.

On the economics side of the negotiations we did give proposals to increase wages and differentials. We also proposed no changes in Medical and Dental coverage.

Up to this point there has not been any discussion on our pension. Equally frustrating to our Sisters and Brothers at KMC/SBBHC in Lakewood, NJ, who have not settled on a contract and are still waiting for pension information also. To date the hospitals have not provided the SBMC and KMC/SBBHC bargaining committees with pension information despite the multiple requests that have been made by the KMC/SBBHC bargaining committee.  

We also proposed language for certifications such as BLS, ACLS, PALS etc. that are a contingency of employment that you paid wages for taking the full courses rather than accelerated courses. We also proposed extending the period of submitting certifications although the hospital did not agree with the length we requested.

We return to the bargaining table on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 to continue negotiating your contract. Remember we all are a part of the NJNU “TEAM” because: