Roughly 1,300 nurses at Woodbury, N.J.-based Inspira Health Network hospitals plan to picket next month if contract negotiations stall between the Health Professional and Allied Employees, which represent the workers, and the healthcare organization, The Daily Journal reports.
Nurses have tentatively scheduled a picket June 6 at Inspira New Jersey locations in Vineland, Elmer, Bridgeton and Woodbury. They plan to call off the picket if an agreement is reached.
Inspira President and CEO John DiAngelo said the organization "will take appropriate action to ensure that patient access and quality care continues," should the nurses picket, according to The Daily Journal.
According to the report, staffing, patient safety and benefits are among the issues for the unions — HPAE Local 5131 and 5621.
Union representatives said negotiations are scheduled Friday between the two parties, and a federal mediator has been requested to sit in, according to the report. The nurses' current contract expires May 31.
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