Community Corner
Clara Maass Offered Nurses Pay Raises Last October
Why Has Their Union Continued to Block It?
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Belleville, NJ – During an October 2022 negotiations session, Clara Maass Medical Center offered its nursing staff a market wage increase. Today, nine months later, the union has still not accepted the increase, denying its members raises the hospital says the nurses are entitled to.
Nurses at hospitals across the RWJBarnabas Health system were offered similar increases last year and all have since accepted the raises, except for nurses at Clara Maass.
“Our nurses are the backbone of Clara Maass and the critical services we provide the community. They deserve to be recognized accordingly and for this to also be reflected in their wages,” wrote Clara Maass President and CEO Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D. in a letter to the community. “RWJBarnabas Health is a union friendly organization and is committed to reaching a fair and amicable resolution, but this situation is unprecedented.”
The market wage increase being offered by the hospital would increase the salary of every nurse at Clara Maass—an 8.8% raise on average. In addition, the hospital is offering to increase shift differential pay to an extra $6 per hour, preceptor pay to $2.50 an hour, and the hourly charge rate to $2. Management’s offer would not have precluded the union from continuing to negotiate other aspects of the contract.
“We believe our nurses have earned and deserve these salary increases,” Clyne continued. “The Clara Maass team continues to negotiate in good faith in hopes of reaching an agreement.”
For nine months, 1199SEIU has refused to accept the additional compensation on behalf of its members as it attempts to hold out for retroactive pay dating back to before the market wage increase was even offered.
Despite the fact that an agreement has not yet been reached, Clyne says it has not affected the hospital’s ability to deliver the highest level of quality patient care.
“Our doors remain open, and our nurses remain dedicated to our patients,” Clyne stated in her community letter. “We thank you for your support and understanding while we work towards a fair labor agreement that benefits our staff and allows Clara Maass to continue to serve the community with the excellence you have grown to expect and deserve.”
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