Following a continued impasse in negotiations, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-200, the union representing more than 1,700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick, officially began an unfair labor practice strike Friday morning.

The group’s most recent contract expired June 30, after several months of stalled bargaining. That agreement was then extended to July 21. Three days later, after a continued stalemate, the union notified management of its intent to strike July 24, which took effect at 7 a.m. on Aug. 4. The key issues on the negotiating table revolve around staffing levels, salaries, retirement medical benefits, and medical insurance cost caps.

Danella emphasized that the strike is about the future of nursing and the need for respect towards nurses. She stated, "We work through pandemics. We work short. We work very hard as nurses in the institution, and I think and I believe that a lot of people believe it has to do with respect − respect to nurses."

The union had previously notified the hospital of the strike on July 24, as required by the 10-day notice rule.

In preparation for the strike, last week, an email was sent to second, third, and fourth-year medical students at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, asking for volunteers to support the hospital in case the nurses go on strike. The students would assist by answering call bells, checking in on patients, and supporting the replacement nursing staff. Dr. Carol Terregino, one of the deans at the medical school, assured that students volunteering would only receive an excused absence if they miss a class and would not be paid or given credit.

The hospital's management had previously announced plans to hire "replacement nurses" to cover for the striking nurses, a measure that could be necessary for an extended period and comes at a significant cost. Using the medical students as temporary volunteers is intended to bridge the gap until the replacement nurses are in place.

The prospect of a strike has raised concerns, and the hospital management views it as an "extreme measure that serves no one's best interest, including the nurses themselves nor our patients." The situation continues to evolve, and both parties hope for a resolution before the strike commences.