HPAE, a union of healthcare professionals in New Jersey, represents 120 addiction treatment workers at AAC/Sunrise House, an in-patient addiction treatment center in Lafayette, NJ. HPAE has notified the employer of the workers’ intent to conduct a three day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike at the facility if an agreement is not reached by May 24, 2017, at 7:00 a.m.
Should a strike be called, we urge all affiliates to join in solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the picket line at 37 Sunset Inn Road, Lafayette Township, NJ 07848. In addition, it is possible that your union may be referring members to AAC for substance abuse rehabilitation services. If this is the case, we encourage your local to consider the company’s failure to bargain with workers in good faith, which has the effect of undermining both employees and patients at the facility.
HPAE is calling for improvements in working conditions to combat rampant staff shortages and a highly dangerous work environment. Staffing shortages are exacerbated by low morale and difficulty in hiring due to poverty wages with the majority of staff being paid $10.00/hour.
At Sunrise House, staff have had to work in an environment of routine violations of NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) regulations, OSHA regulations, and the National Labor Relations Act. AAC has been bargaining in bad faith with the staff of Sunrise House and the company’s refusal to incorporate its staff’s ideas for solutions to the many problems plaguing the facility is having an impact on the staff’s ability to give the best possible patient care.
We appreciate your support of our brothers and sisters in their fight for good jobs and to provide the highest quality addiction treatment. For more details about the labor dispute, you can watch workers’ firsthand accounts HERE.