The Rutgers AAUP-AFT faculty/graduate worker union is calling on New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to rescind RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan's appointment to the Rutgers Board of Governors.
A petition being circulated by the union alleges that Mr. Manigan has failed to uphold his oath to support the state constitution, which reads, "Persons in private employment shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively." The union is encouraging students, faculty, alumni, staff and members of the larger Rutgers community to sign.
Members of United Steelworkers Local 4-200, which represents about 1,700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., have been on strike since Aug. 4 after the union's most recent contract expired July 21.
The petition states that union members' key request is "enforceable safe staffing ratios that would guarantee the best care necessary for every patient." It also alleges retaliation by RWJBarnabas executives against the striking nurses "by misrepresenting them in the media, delaying contract negotiations, intimidating nurses who speak out, and spending $54 million on replacement nurses in hopes of breaking the union."
Additionally, the union points to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital temporarily suspending healthcare benefits, effective Sept. 1, for striking workers who would no longer be eligible since they are no longer working in the hospital.
A hospital spokesperson confirmed to Becker's on Oct. 11 that both parties continue to negotiate through mediation.
Wendy Gottsegen, a Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital spokesperson, said in a statement shared with Becker's on Oct. 6 that the hospital "has continued to offer language in support of top-of-market wages, as well as safe-staffing standards that meet or exceed levels set forth by legislation in states like California and in a number of hospital labor settlements across the country."
In another previous statement, Ms. Gottsegen also noted that the hospital agreed to the union's staffing proposal.
"It was memorialized in a formal agreement signed by both parties that also required the union leadership to recommend it to its membership, which it failed to do," she said.