HPAE Local 5094 Action Alert
Tell the Governor: No Wage Cuts at UMDNJ!

HPAE members, 3600 health professionals and nurses at UMDNJ, are in the midst of a wage-reopener with management, as a result of our 2006 contract. That agreement was reached during the establishment of a federal monitor at UMDNJ, and the wage re-opener was scheduled for 2008 to address the decline in UMDNJ’s ability to recruit nurses and professionals during a shortage. 

UMDNJ’s offer? A Two year Wage Cut.

UMDNJ has not budged from its wage freeze proposal when mid-contract bargaining began in April. Combined with imposition of the 1.5% health insurance cost to all employees, their offer is actually a two-year wage cut. UMDNJ’s inability to offer competitive wages will have a serious and negative impact on their ability to recruit and retain qualified staff for patient care, research, and mental health and community services

 

However, the culture of waste, abuse and an absence of transparency and accountability continue at UMDNJ. Layoffs have been implemented, while high level administrators continue to be hired with offers of the promise of bonus programs.

 

As a result of UMDNJ’s failure to bargain in good faith, HPAE has filed Unfair Practice Charges and HPAE Local 5094 has notified management of a pending job action on December 3 if a settlement is not reached. 

 

We are asking that you reach out to Governor Corzine asking him to urge UMDNJ President William F. Owen Jr., MD to settle fairly with the 3600 Health Professionals and Registered Nurses at UMDNJ and University Hospital in Newark.  

 

We encourage you to take action NOW. 

 

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: UMDNJ Health Care Workers Need Your Support

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Please show your support for the health professionals and nurses currently negotiating with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in a wage re-opener for the last two years of a four year contract. HPAE's health professionals and RNs of UMDNJ provide invaluable services to the citizens of New Jersey at University Hospital and on campuses throughout the state.

For seven months, UMDNJ has insisted on a wage freeze combined with the imposition of 1.5% of salary for health insurance costs. In these hard economic times, our health professionals and hard-working citizens deserve decent wages--not a two-year wage cut.

Please tell UMDNJ President Owen to return to the bargaining table now and settle a fair contract with the 3600 Health Professionals and Registered Nurses at UMDNJ and University Hospital in Newark.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 25, 2008


Background Information

UMDNJ has not budged from its wage freeze proposal when mid-contract bargaining began in April. Combined with imposition of the 1.5% health insurance cost to all employees, their offer is actually a two-year wage cut. UMDNJ’s inability to offer competitive wages will have a serious and negative impact on their ability to recruit and retain qualified staff for patient care, research, and mental health and community services.

The culture of waste, abuse and an absence of transparency and accountability continue at UMDNJ. Layoffs have been implemented, while high level administrators continue to be hired with offers of the promise of bonus programs.

 

As a result of UMDNJ’s failure to bargain in good faith, HPAE has filed Unfair Practice Charges and HPAE Local 5094 has notified management of a pending job action on December 3 if a settlement is not reached.