Registered nurses at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., and employees at Bayonne (N.J.) Medical Center have reached separate three-year collective bargaining agreements.
Both hospitals are part of Secaucus, N.J.-based Hudson Regional Health, a four-hospital system formed in May as the final step in CarePoint Health’s bankruptcy exit.
The agreements cover employees represented by Health Professionals and Allied Employees, according to a July 29 statement from Hudson Regional Health CEO Nizar Kifaieh, MD, shared with Becker’s.
The contracts include raises of at least 12% in the first year, followed by 3% increases in the second and third years, according to a separate July 29 news release from HPAE shared with Becker’s. The agreements also include improved benefits and working conditions.
Under the new contracts, staff will also recover lost “step” advancements that were previously cut under former management, Dr. Kifaieh said.
“Not only did these strong union members fight back most of the employer takebacks, but they were able to win significant wages and benefits as well,” HPAE President Debbie White, RN, said in the union release. “We hope these new contracts will lay the groundwork for better management of these hospitals and improved patient care.”
Hudson Regional Health employs 5,000 people. Chairman Yan Moshe contributed more than $120 million to facilitate the bankruptcy exit and fund facility upgrades.
“Within the walls of our four hospitals, our staff morale and relationships with management are wholly aligned and we are pleased to be able to advance their careers through this agreement,” Dr. Kifaieh said in his statement. “We have work to do to bring the former CarePoint facilities up to the standards the community deserves, but we are making rapid progress and we expect to report more advancements on a regular basis.”
