Robert Wood Johnson makes its final offer. Sue Epstein, Newark Star Ledger, July 23, 2006 For the second time in three years, nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick have authorized a strike if negotiations for a new contract break off. In August 2003, negotiations went down to the wire and the clock was stopped and restarted several times before a settlement was reached, averting a walkout at one of the state's leading medical facilities. This time, the hospital presented its final offer last Monday and the union is holding a ratification vote on the proposal this Thursday. ... Nurses

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, July 22, 2006 An emergency operation at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center went wrong early Friday morning when the physician opened up the wrong hip of an elderly female patient, hospital officials said. The state Department of Health and Senior Services is investigating a complaint about "wrong-site surgery" received late Friday afternoon, said Donna Leusner, press secretary to the state health commissioner. The incident was the first patient-care problem confirmed by state officials in the 22-day strike by unionized nurses at the hospital. ... Englewood

Alex Nussbaum, NorthJersey.com, July 15, 2006

Contract talks broke off early Friday morning between Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and its striking nurses, with no end in sight for the nurses' two-week old walkout.

A 10-hour bargaining session ended about 1:30 AM with no immediate plans for the two sides to meet again, union and hospital representatives said.

"We're still at a loss as to exactly what would bring this to an end," Jean Pierce, a spokeswoman for the 660 nurses, said Friday. Union members plan to rally outside the hospital Monday at 5 PM. ... Hospital

Mary Jo Layton, NorthJersey.com, July 14, 2006

Negotiations resumed Thursday between striking nurses and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, but no agreement was reached over pension, staffing and other issues.

With the strike now in its 16th day and the hospital spending about $900,000 a week to replace 660 nurses on the picket line, the talks did not appear to yield progress.

Nurses say they are striking for better staffing, more opportunities for professional development, scheduling changes and pension benefits.

The hospital insists that the stalling point is pension costs. ... Hospital

Alex Nussbaum, NorthJersey.com, July 11, 2006

Striking nurses and officials at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center have agreed to return to the bargaining table Thursday afternoon.

"It's a good sign," hospital spokeswoman Maria Margiotta said Monday, the 12th day since nurses walked out over pension and staffing disputes.

"We're returning to the table to continue discussions, and what comes out of Thursday's meeting, I couldn't say," she added. "We're hoping to resume meaningful negotiations on reasonable goals." ... Striking

Matt Dunn, Today's Sunbeam, July 8, 2006

Facing an upcoming election which could see its nurses decide to unionize, South Jersey Healthcare staged a video shoot all day Friday with anti-union nurses at its Bridgeton, Elmer and Vineland facilities.

An edited version of the video will be available for viewing by registered nurses interested in hearing the opinions of their co-workers opposed to joining the 11,000-member Health Professional and Allied Employees AFT/AFL-CIO, according to SJH Spokesman Paul Simon. ... SJH

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, July 8, 2006

Both sides in the 10-day-old nurses' strike at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center took their fight to the public as the week ended with no resumption in contract talks.

Members of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union distributed leaflets in the community and at the workplaces of hospital board members. They gathered signatures on a petition in support of the nurses' "fight for safe staffing for patients [and] retirement with dignity." ... No

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, July 6, 2006

The nurses strike at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center enters its second week today, amid plans for a union meeting this afternoon and calls from the hospital to return to the bargaining table and "accept our last offer."

Members of the Health Professional and Allied Employees union continued to picket at the hospital on Wednesday, where they were joined by Charles Wowkanech, president of the state AFL-CIO, as well as representatives of the sheet-metal workers and machinists unions. ... Other

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, July 1, 2006

Nurses marched the picket line outside Englewood Hospital and Medical Center on Friday as a strike by the Hospital Professional and Allied Employees union entered its second day.

No new bargaining sessions were scheduled in the contract dispute, which reached an impasse over pension benefits. ... About 40 nurses carried placards at the main entrance on Friday morning. Smaller groups picketed at four other entrances. ... Nurses

Asbury Park Press, June 30, 2006

Englewood - Union nurses at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center went on strike Thursday morning after contract talks hit an impasse over proposed changes to the nurses' pension plan. No new contract talks were scheduled as of Thursday evening.

The 660 nurses, represented by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, began picketing when the strike started at 7 AM. Meanwhile, replacement nurses brought in by the hospital were making the rounds, caring for patients at the 520-bed teaching hospital. ... Englewood

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, June 30, 2006

Englewood Hospital and Medical Center's nurses marched a picket line instead of caring for patients Thursday.

The nurses went on strike at 7 AM - 31 hours after contract talks broke down over pension issues and a month after the nurses' contract had expired.

No further negotiations were scheduled between the hospital and the Health Professional and Allied Employees union, which represents the nurses.

It was the second time this month that the nurses found themselves outside the hospital. ... Nurses

1010 WINS, June 29, 2006

Englewood - No talks are scheduled between striking nurses and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

1010 WINS Audio: Steve Kastenbaum Reports from Jersey

The union that represents about 660 nurses went on strike this morning after talks broke down over pensions.

Replacement workers were brought in. Hospital officials claim the union's pension plans is unaffordable.

The Health Professionals and Allied Employees union says members will picket around the clock. ... Nurses

Lindy Washburn, NorthJersey.com, June 29, 2006

Nurses at Englewood Hospital went on strike Thursday morning after pension negotiations failed.

The 660 employees were led by the House Professionals and Allied Employees union. The strike began at 7 AM, forcing the hospital to bring on replacement nurses for that shift.

The hospital reported that all operations were normal and patient care was not affected. State Senator Loretta Weinberg addressed the rally, saying, "We are 100 percent behind you. I do not believe this hospital has been an honest broker," in contract talks. ... Nurses

Tamsen Fadal, CBS, June 29, 2006

Englewood - Hundreds of nurses are on strike this morning at Englewood Hospital. Picket lines formed began forming earlier this morning.

At 7 AM, 660 registered nurses went on strike at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center. This comes less than a month after they were locked out of the hospital for three days.

Tuesday night, both sides went back to the bargaining table to try to head off this morning's strike but to no avail. At issue are pension benefits, working conditions and nurse-patient ratios. ... Strike!

Newsday, June 29, 2006

Englewood - Union nurses at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center went on strike Thursday morning after contract talks hit an impasse over proposed changes to the nurses' pension plan. No new contract talks were scheduled as of Thursday evening.

The 660 nurses, represented by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union, began picketing when the strike started at 7 AM. Meanwhile, replacement nurses brought in by the hospital were making the rounds, caring for patients at the 520-bed teaching hospital. ... Nurses