Jersey Shore U. Nurses Claim Poor Coronavirus Protections

NEPTUNE, NJ — The public calls nurses heroes, but Hackensack Meridian Health's proposals during labor negotiations don't reflect that, according to a union representing members of the profession. Nurses will picket outside Southern Ocean in Manahawkin and Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, fighting for "adequate protection."

At the bargaining table, nurses at both hospitals called for policies to better protect employees as they anticipate a second resurgence in coronavirus cases.

The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union said Friday their nurses would hold informational pickets outside of both hospitals because of a "lack (of) progress" in negotiations.

HPAE also claims a nurse was fired in April after defending a colleague complaining about a shortage of protective equipment. HMH has denied that was the reason firing of Adam Witt, a nurse and local president of HPAE who worked at JSUMC. Read more: Jersey Shore Hospital Fired Nurse For Questioning Safety: Union

The action will take place from 2-6 p.m. Sunday outside SOMC and from 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 5-8 p.m. Monday at JSUMC. Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) owns both hospitals.

The nurses of HPAE have called for the following, according to a statement from the union:

"At the bargaining table they are calling for a voice in pandemic preparedness in their facility; restrictions on 'floating' nurses to units outside of their designated skill level; limits on non-nursing duties that may lead to cross contamination and put patients at higher risk of exposure to contamination; and fair wages for every nurse as they are the healthcare heroes who made tremendous sacrifices during a global pandemic."

Hackensack Meridian Health Responds

A spokesperson for SOMC sent Patch a statement on behalf of Hackensack Meridian Health. HMH is operating under the assumption that another coronavirus surge will occur.

Certain protocols at facilities include creating separate COVID and non-COVID areas in the hospitals, testing staff for the virus, installing thermal cameras at every hospital and longterm-care facility and screening everyone who enters the building, according to Anne Green, SOMC's public relations manager.

"We have tested more than 9,000 team members and fewer than one percent are positive," Green said. "We continue our strict masking policies for all team members and patients. Regarding PPE, we have ample supplies and are planning to secure up to a 90-day supply in coming months. Again, we have always had adequate supply of PPE and we have sourced PPE from around the world. We were the first to institute universal masking in the state of New Jersey for both team members and patients." (Read Green's full statement below.)

Breakdown In Negotiations

Jersey Shore nurses sent a complaint in March to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The nurses claimed that HMH suspended all fit testing of N95 respirators for all of their New Jersey workers.

Fit tests verify whether a wearer can achieve an acceptable facial fit with the respirator. N95 masks have been critical for health care workers and first responders to protect themselves from COVID-19, but some hospitals have faced shortages throughout the pandemic.

JSUMC's complaint to OSHA, which Patch acquired, claimed the employer didn't train their employees on how to conduct seal checks when donning a respirator. The complaint also says HMH wasn't conducting initial fit testing for new employees or when a new N95 respirator model was provided.

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OSHA received the complaint March 31. The organization also received allegations of workplace hazards April 27, May 6 and May 8. One allegation states that employees in one unit were provided with one disposable gown daily, and the gown doesn't last throughout the shift. Employees aren't able to obtain additional gowns as needed, according to the complaint.

An OSHA area director told HMH the following in a May 8 letter:

"As you are aware, OSHA is currently conducting an inspection of your workplace as result of these allegations. However, because allegations of violations and/or hazards have been made, we request that you immediately investigate the alleged conditions and make any necessary corrections or modifications."

HPAE, the health-care workers union, attached in their initial complaint a letter from HMH's office of the CEO dated March 20.

"Due to global shortage of N95 respirators, HMH and other national organizations are revising protocols for usage and fit testing," said the letter, which announced HMH would suspend initial and annual fit testing.

HMH's update to employees said they were following OSHA's advice to conserve supplies and N95 respirators while continuing to protect staff.
OSHA sent a memo March 14 giving employers more discretion in requirements for annual fit tests but that initial fit testing remains required.

"That is why we want to negotiate formal 'standard pandemic planning' into this contract renewal so that nurses will have a voice in how PPE is acquired and distributed," said HPAE President Debbie White. "In the event of another disease outbreak, we want weekly meetings with management to review available stock of personal protective equipment, staffing, fit-testing of PPEs, including plans for when someone fails a fit-test."

A Vote for Action

The nurses' current contract was set to expire May 31. Nurses at SOMC and JSUMC voted "overwhelmingly" in late May to authorize their bargaining committees to call a strike or another form of concerted activity if an agreement isn't reached, according to HPAE, the health-care workers union.

HPAE represents 1,300 JSUMC nurses and 250 at SOMC. The nurses chose to move forward with informational picket outside both hospitals.
"The public calls nurses 'heroes,' but the proposals from HMH don't reflect that," said Adam Witt, a registered nurse and president of HPAE Local 5058.

"We deserve respect for our hard work, sacrifice and commitment. We've been pushed to our limits and are at the point where we have to show HMH that safety, staffing, correct paychecks and a fair wage are necessities for our incredible nurses."

Greene concluded her statement on HMH's behalf with the following:

"We are disappointed HPAE has decided to use this extreme tactic as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to detract from the excellent care we provide every day at Jersey Shore and Southern Ocean. It won't help the situation at the negotiating table and is only meant to draw attention to the union and its leaders."

Green's full statement:

"Hackensack Meridian Health supports our front-line heroes and continues to work diligently to ensure our patients, team members and guests are safe.

"We are proceeding with the assumption that there WILL be a resurgence of COVID-19, not WHEN. We continue to marshal resources and ensure we are prepared. This includes creating separate COVID and non-COVID areas in our hospitals, testing team members for the virus, installing thermal cameras at every hospital and long-term care facility entrance to screen everyone who enters the building.

"We have tested more than 9,000 team members and fewer than one percent are positive. We continue our strict masking policies for all team members and patients. Regarding PPE, we have ample supplies and are planning to secure up to a 90-day supply in coming months. Again, we have always had adequate supply of PPE and we have sourced PPE from around the world. We were the first to institute universal masking in the state of New Jersey for both team members and patients.

"We understand that there continues to be community spread. We have created stringent protocols to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus among team members and our patients. Again, every single person entering our facilities is screened. We also have team members assess their health status daily for symptoms of COVID. If they have symptoms, they must call occupational health. They cannot return to work until they are cleared by a physician. All patients entering the hospital are COVID tested prior to treatment to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. We only perform elective procedures on patients who are COVID negative.

"Although the state and our network are on the downside of the curve, we remain vigilant and continue to utilize the advantages of a large health system – allocating resources all over the state, hiring caregivers as needed and investing in innovation and research. We currently have our command center and leaders from across the network developing the COVID second wave playbook – a group that includes front-line caregivers, including our nursing colleagues, so that we have their perspective. This playbook addresses best practices and areas that need improvement. For example, we learned that proning patients – putting them face down - helped prevent some from needing a ventilator and being treated in the ICU. Like everyone else, we were learning along the way. We also have many clinical trials underway and see promising results from our convalescent plasma therapy, which is giving hope to hundreds of patients.

"Members of HPAE have signaled their intent to picket near Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center despite months of progress on a labor contract for registered nurses.

"Hackensack Meridian Health remains focused on the health and welfare of patients, visitors, team members, physicians and volunteers during the pickets on June 21 and 22, 2020. The network has undertaken numerous measures to ensure minimal disruption to those getting care or visiting Jersey Shore and Southern Ocean.

"The hospitals will remain open and fully operational with extra staff on site to help with access and to answer questions from patients and visitors.
"Informational picketing is not the same as a strike. All team members are expected to report for work as scheduled.

"Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to bargaining in good faith for contracts that provide team members with fair, competitive wages and benefits and allow our hospitals to deliver safe, quality care.

"We are disappointed HPAE has decided to use this extreme tactic as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and to detract from the excellent care we provide every day at Jersey Shore and Southern Ocean. It won't help the situation at the negotiating table and is only meant to draw attention to the union and its leaders."

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

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