The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to welcome 430 registered nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerville who voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW).
The nurses voted 204 to 170 over the objection of hospital management to join a labor union that already represents 1,400 nurses at the hospital’s New Brunswick campus. The vote is expected to be certified by the National Labor Relations Board next week. We are honored to have these new workers in the AFL-CIO’s union family.
The nurses become the first organized bargaining unit at the Somerville hospital since the Somerset Medical Center merged with the New Brunswick-based hospital in June. Union officials decided to pursue a vote rather than present a legal case for allowing the Somerville nurses to join their New Brunswick colleagues without an election after the merger.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO applauds the nurses for waging an uphill battle after the hospital hired the anti-union public relations firm Kulture to thwart the organizing effort, as well as the USW for the ongoing commitment to ensure high-quality patient care and superior medical services. These dedicated professionals treated themselves and their families to an early gift this holiday season by voting to become part of our labor family.