NJ Nurses Push For Hazard Pay, ‘Safe Staffing’ Amid Pandemic

NEWARK, NJ — As the coronavirus crisis continues, thousands of New Jersey nurses are falling back on another form of job protection beyond face masks and gloves: collective bargaining.

On Thursday, Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), a union that represents 14,000 nurses and health care workers across New Jersey, gave an update on its locals’ ongoing contract negotiations amid the pandemic.

Hazard pay will be among the goals for its members in 2021, union spokespeople said. Other demands will include worker and patient safety measures, “safe staffing” and infectious disease preparedness.

They’re all issues that became even more urgent last year during the pandemic, the union emphasized.

According to the HPAE:

“At Palisades Medical Center, owned by Hackensack Meridian, two HPAE members died from COVID-19 during the pandemic. Transporter Alfredo Pabatao died on March 26, 2020 and patient care technician Nancy Martell died on July 12, 2020 after a long battle with the illness. A Palisades security officer, who is not a member of HPAE, also died of the disease. Maria Luisa Lopez, a registered nurse at Bayonne Medical Center, owned by CarePoint, died at the end of March of last year. Three other members of HPAE have died of complications from COVID-19 as well: George Sisnero and Nagi Abraham of University Hospital, and Susan Cicala, a prison nurse who worked for Rutgers.”

“Nurses and other health care professionals must be heard,” HPAE President Debbie White urged.

“Their experiences over the last year have led to a set of demands that will go far to protect front-line caregivers,” White said. “Ultimately, COVID-19 has served to highlight what we’ve said all along; worker safety is patient safety.”

• See related article: NJ Nurses Fear 'Speeding Train' Of Coronavirus Cases
• See related article: 'Terrified' Hillsborough Nurse Pleads For Caution As COVID Spikes

Union spokespeople pointed out that contract negotiations are happening across the state. HPAE locals are either at the bargaining table now – or will be throughout the year – for 6,000 nurses and health care workers at the following facilities:

• Local 5030, Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, representing Registered Nurses, Professionals, Technical Staff, License Practical Nurses, Service Workers, and Skilled Maintenance Staff,
• Local 5097, Hackensack Meridian The Harborage, representing Certified Nursing Assistants, Housekeepers, and Dietary Staff,
• Local 5118, Cooper University Healthcare, in Camden, representing Registered Nurses,
• Local 5004, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, representing Registered Nurses,
• Local 5186, CarePoint Health Christ Hospital in Jersey City, representing Registered Nurses,
• Local 5185, CarePoint Health Bayonne Medical Center in Bayonne, representing Registered Nurses, Professionals, Technical Staff, Service Workers, and Business Office Clericals,
• Local 5142; Salem Medical Center in Salem, representing Registered Nurses,
• Local 5089, University Hospital in Newark, representing Registered Nurses,
• Local 5094, University Hospital in Newark, representing professional staff,
• Local 5103, The American Red Cross, in Philadelphia, representing Registered Nurses and Technical Staff in the Penn-Jersey Region,
• Local 5107, The Llanfair House Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wayne, The Visiting Nurses Association Health group of NJ, LLC, and Visiting Nurses Association of Englewood, representing Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses.

“Health care workers have identified areas that must improve in order to reduce the risk to workers, help stem the rate of spread, improve patient outcomes, and create a safer environment for workers and patients,” White said. “And it is imperative that dedicated health care workers are given a seat at the table as advocates for a work environment that will help to recruit and retain essential staff — something desperately needed at this time.”

White said the HPAE will also continue to fight for legislation to mandate employers to create infectious disease preparedness committees – with workers as members.

The battle for workers’ rights amid the pandemic has been taking place on several fronts, White said.

“We fought for protective equipment so all health care workers could continue to do their lifesaving work safely without infecting themselves and their patients,” White said. “We filed complaints with the New Jersey Department of Health and with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which has cited many of our employers.”

According to White, the HPAE has advocated for laws to demand transparency and protections for health care workers and patients in all health care facilities, but has met stiff resistance from employers, especially hospital operators.

“Despite the resistance we have encountered over the last year, HPAE members are headed to the bargaining table with resilience and determination,” White added.

• See related article: Airport Workers In NJ, NY Fight For New Contracts Amid Pandemic
• See related article: NJ Newspapers Try To Unionize; Reporters Have Demands For Gannett
• See related article: Unions Say Revamped Deal With Rutgers University Will Stop Layoffs

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.