SECAUCUS AND BEYOND – Local labor leaders spoke out against Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center (MHMC) on Tuesday citing alleged violations of the rights of nurses and healthcare workers. The Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union, which represents 350 workers at MHMC, filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday seeking an injunction to order the hospital to stop the alleged activities.
The list of violations allegedly committed by the hospital include: retaliation against union employees through intimidation, layoffs, and reduction of hours; requiring employees to fill prescriptions at the in-house hospital pharmacy because of the loss of prescription coverage; hiring nurses at minimum wage as part of an intern program, and paycheck issues. The union also says that the hospital has allegedly failed to provide them with information on firings, layoffs, and a response to questions about 48 surveillance cameras that have allegedly been placed throughout the facility.
Labor leaders have requested a state monitor from the Department of Health to review all of the violations.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg issued statements of support for the health care workers.
For more on this story, watch hudsonreporter.com on Wednesday.