Nurses at Newton Memorial Hospital petition to join union

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/nurses_at_newton_memorial_hosp.html

by Joe Moszczynski/The Star-Ledger
Monday February 09, 2009, 4:18 PM

Registered nurses at Newton Memorial Hospital have filed a petition to join New Jersey's largest union of nurses and health care professionals, the union announced today

The petition, signed by about 200 of the more than 300 RNs who work at Newton Memorial, was filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees union elections, on behalf of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees.


Rick Schultz/For The Star-ledgerAn entrance at Newton Memorial Hospital in Newton, photographed in 2002. STAR-LEDGER


The petition cites a number of goals for the union drive, including quality patient care and safe nurse staffing, professional training and education, retention of staff, fairness in treatment, fair wages and job security.

"We are unionizing for a voice in patient care -- we are at the bedside, and we want to be able to speak up for our patients and their families effectively. To do that, we need policies that help our hospital recruit and retain the most qualified nurses and staff," said Lisa Arbolino, a registered nurse at the 148-bed hospital and a member of the HPAE organizing committee.

Without offering further comment, Newton Memorial spokesman John Brand issued the following statement: "Today, we received a petition from the Newark Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board filed by Health Professionals and Allied Employees. We will be following the appropriate process with the regional office of the NLRB."

Jeanne Otersen, spokeswoman for the Emerson-based union, said the NLRB will now review the petition for its validity. If the petition is not substantially challenged by the hospital, a union election could be held within 30-60 days, she said.

HPAE represents 12,000 RNs and health care professionals at hospitals and nursing homes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

positions join unions across this country. Then were are talking some big movement. Let's keep this moving all the way up.

:woohoo: