Nurses at Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin say they are ready to go on strike in 10 days if they can’t reach an agreement over staffing levels in a new contract with Hackensack Meridian Health. ”Our nurses are fighting for safe staffing standards to protect our patients,” Debbie White, HPAE President said. “It did not have to come to this. HMH management has had months to come to an agreement with us on safe staffing ratios. These are dedicated public servants who deserve better than an employer whose sole concern is profits. Study after study has shown that safe staffing ratios do save lives, and we are ready to strike to ensure our hospital can provide a safer level of care." AFT Monmouth Ocean AFL-CIO CLC New Jersey State AFL-CIO Congressman Chris Smith Congressman Herb Conaway, MD New Jersey Senate Republicans NJ's 9th Legislative District (fb)

Healthcare workers will no longer accept the status quo of cutting the number of staff down to its lowest number to maximize hospital profits,” said HPAE President Debbie White, RN. “Unsafe staffing endangers patients and nurses alike and these dedicated and caring professionals are demanding more for their patients. Last year, four hospitals did the right thing by agreeing to safe staffing language while bargaining HPAE contracts including Cooper University Hospital, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, Palisades Medical Center and University Hospital. If these hospitals can agree, why not Bergen New Bridge and Inspira Health?” AFT #safestaffingsaveslives (fb)