Shore Medical Center's Nurses Plan One-Day Strike

SOMERS POINT, NJ — Registered nurses at Shore Medical Center will hold a one-day strike Tuesday. Shore Nurses Union leadership claims the hospital seeks to reduce nurses' benefits and has excluded them from parts of contract negotiation.

A statement from the union claims the hospital has blocked nurse leader access to the facility to discuss union concerns, retaliated against a nurse bargaining committee member and hasn't provided reasoning for reducing benefits in their next collective bargaining agreement.

"Unfortunately, Shore management wants to cut many different items that would drive away the best nurses in the hospital," said New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) Field Director Eric Smith. "We’re largely looking for a status-quo contract that we know will recruit and retain the best."

The Shore Nurses Union falls under the NYSNA's umbrella. Registered nurses will picket outside from 7 a.m. until about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Smith says. Nurses will return to work Wednesday.

The nurses gave the hospital 10-day's notice, Smith says. The nature of the job doesn't allow them to walk out without advanced alert. Some of the nurses on strike will be part of an "emergency patient care team," Smith says.

"If Shore needs help in any patient care emergency, we stand at the ready to go into the hospital and stabilize the patients and take care of any emergency until they can hand it off to the health care team inside," Smith told Patch.

Union leadership claims Shore management wants to cut medical leave, health care coverage, 401(k) and pensions and wage increases "that are way behind the market," Smith said.

Shore's new proposal would increase nurse's premiums and out-of-pocket costs, he says. Smith claimed the hospital has made over $27 million in profits the last two years.

Smith also explained that Shore management has blocked nurses from entering the facility to discuss union matters. This has affected the working conditions for a nurse leader.

"They’re trying to change her schedule, make it very hard for her to work," Smith said. "How she’s worked for well over a decade and it's all of a sudden a problem in their eyes. They want to change days and hours."

Shore Spokesperson Brian Cahill provided the following statement to Patch:

"It is unfortunate that the nurses’ union has elected to declare a one day strike on November 26. Patient care will continue to be our top priority. Therefore, the hospital has taken all necessary measures to be fully prepared with highly skilled, experienced staff who will provide the highest quality care our community has come to expect. Patients and visitors can use our parking garage or valet when arriving at Shore. We will sustain normal operations and provide seamless care to our patients."

During the picketing, three rallies will take place from 8:30-9 a.m., 12-12:30 p.m. and 6-6:30 p.m.

"Each time Shore comes to the table to negotiate, they come with the intention of taking away as much as they can get away with," union co-president Dottie Rudert said in a statement. "For 20 years Shore Nurses have fought to preserve what we have: good working conditions with fair wages, quality care for our patients and respect for each other."

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