Jersey Shore Hospital Fired Nurse For Questioning Safety: Union

NEPTUNE, NJ — Federal complaints filed on behalf of an Ocean Grove man allege Jersey Shore University Medical Center fired him from his nursing job because he raised concerns about the safety of nurses and staff at the hospital amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Adam Witt was fired Monday, according to the complaints filed by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union with the National Labor Relations Board and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Debbie White, state president of the the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, said Witt was fired because he defended a nurse who was being disciplined, in his role as the president of the local union unit. Witt has not commented publicly.

She said nurses had been raising concerns about the availability of personal protective equipment, including masks, and had been bringing masks from home. However, she said, nurses were being forced to get rid of them. Those who did not were disciplined for the refusal, she said.

"It's absolutely not true," said Nancy R. Corcoran-Davidoff, executive vice president and chief experience and human resources officer for Hackensack Meridian Health. "There hasn’t been an instance of a team member being disciplined or terminated for expressing their views regarding PPE anywhere in the network, including Jersey Shore University Medical Center."

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Witt, who was a registered nurse in the emergency department, was president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees Local 5058, which represents 1,200 nurses at the hospital. The union alleges Witt had requested a day off to accompany another nurse to a disciplinary hearing, something that was part of the contract with the union. The request was refused, according to the complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The union complaint said Witt was accused of being a no-show for a March 24 shift and suspended March 31. In addition, his photo was posted on the doors of the hospital with a note to all staff that he was not permitted in the hospital. He was then fired on Monday.

"No such posting has ever previously been made regarding an employee on suspension," the union said in the complaint, "especially for time and attendance issues."

"This was clearly posted as a warning to other employees to not support the union and not to speak up on behalf of their fellow employees," the complaint said.

The union alleged it has repeatedly requested information on what Hackensack Meridian is doing to protect the health and safety of nurses since Feb. 28 and has not received a response. It called Witt's suspension and firing "unlawful discipline and termination" and accuses the hospital of retaliating against workers who are demanding to have the protective equipment they need to stay safe on the frontlines.

"We are one month into a battle against the pandemic outbreak in New Jersey, the likes of which we have never seen and New Jersey is facing a potential healthcare worker shortage," White said. "Despite the great need for frontline caregivers, Hackensack Meridian Health is intimidating and silencing employees on the frontlines of this battle."

Corcoran-Davidoff said the claims were "absolutely false."

"We have policies and procedures in place to protect our team members and patients that are all in accordance with CDC guidelines," she said in an emailed statement. "The current global health care crisis does not negate their importance. Our priorities are to provide a safe work environment for our team members so they can provide the best possible care for our patients."

"We have done and will continue to do everything to ensure our team members have the proper personal protective equipment," Corcoran-Davidoff said, including getting supplies and equipment from all over the country, and the supply levels at the hospitals are checked throughout the day each day.

"The union claims that we intimidate and don’t allow people to speak up," Corcoran-Davidoff said. "Absolutely FALSE . . . Nothing can be further from the truth."

She said the hospital network has daily communications "to make sure our team members are heard and listened to" through emails and there are daily "safety huddles" that give staffers an opportunity to ask questions, and other methods.

White, the union president, said Hackensack Meridian "is more focused on silencing the voice of those battling this pandemic than working with them. As a union of 14,000 frontline caregivers, we will stand with our members who are advocates for the health and safety of both health care workers and patients."

"These are difficult times for all," White said. "Our union members will continue to stand together to defend the right of workers to demand the protections they need in the war against COVID-19.  Hackensack Meridian Health should stand with health care professionals like Adam Witt, not intimidate and silence them."

Corcoran-Davidoff said the network values its staff and the safety of its staff.

"Let us be clear. We are fighting this pandemic, and we will win because of the brave nurses who are sacrificing so much to heal those who are suffering right now," she said. "The nurses at Hackensack Meridian Health are the best in the country and we are fortunate and proud to have them caring for our patients."

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