Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm@usw.org, 412-562-2444
(Edison, N.J.) – United Steelworkers Local 4-200 announced today that they reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick that raises wages, caps insurance costs and provides safe staffing ratios.
The deal covers more than 1,700 members who work as nurses throughout the hospital and who have been on strike against management’s unfair labor practices since Aug. 4.
Workers will now prepare to review and vote on the contract.
USW Local 4-200 President Judy Danella said nurses were grateful for the huge outpouring of community support they received and that they look forward to returning to their work caring for patients.
“Safe staffing is essential to both patient care and reducing burnout among health care workers,” said Danella. “This contract sets necessary staffing ratios so that we can spend more time with each of our patients and keep ourselves safe on the job.”
Danella credited the strength and solidarity of nurses with reaching the deal.
“This agreement was hard-fought, but our sacrifice ultimately paid off with a fair contract that addresses nurses’ most urgent concerns. The local bargaining committee unequivocally recommends ratification.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in health care, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.