MANAHAWKIN – While their labor contract continues to be negotiated, nurses at Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center will soon vote on whether to be represented by their union.
The nurses filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. They want to vote to decertify Health Professionals and Allied Employees as their bargaining representative.
Southern Ocean Medical Center officials said they will continue to negotiate “in good faith” with HPAE.
All unionized nurses will be eligible to cast a secret ballot on whether to keep HPAE.
“Many of our nurses working today never had a chance to vote on whether they wanted union representation. This election will give all of them an opportunity to be heard about this important issue,” Hackensack Meridian Health spokeswoman Nancy Radwin said. “We support the rights of nurses and their ability to exercise their federally protected rights in this important matter.”
Negotiations are ongoing at Southern Ocean Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen.
