The nurses at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center have ratified a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement, hospital officials said over the holiday break.
The vote, which occurred Dec. 22, represented final approval of a memorandum of agreement reached Dec. 18 between the nurses union, New Jersey Nurses Union/CWA 1091, and the hospital after months of good faith negotiations.
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center CEO Rick Davis said he was thrilled to be able to make the announcement.
“The new contract reflects the tremendous value and respect CBMC has for its nurses,” he said in a statement. “Our nurses’ contributions to this hospital are immeasurable. They are tireless in their efforts to provide the highest quality care for our patients and improving the overall health of the community, which has earned Cooperman Barnabas the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence.
“We celebrate our nurse colleagues and look forward to building upon the successes we’ve achieved together and developing new ways to better serve our community.”
The agreement allows both sides to avoid a lengthy strike, such as the one that recently was settled at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
“I want to personally thank the negotiating teams for their continued professionalism and collaboration reaching a fair and equitable resolution that reflects our shared commitment to patients and staff,” Davis said.
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, formerly known as Saint Barnabas Medical Center, was founded in 1865 and is the state’s oldest nonsectarian hospital.
The 597-bed institution is one of the largest health care providers in the state, treating more than 32,000 inpatients and approximately 90,000 Emergency Department patients each year.
