October 28, 2026

Nurses Rally at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Demand Safe Staffing and Protection of Earned Time Off

Nurses, elected officials, and union allies joined CWA Local 1091 to press Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for a fair contract

LIVINGSTON, NJ – Nurses represented by the New Jersey Nurses Union, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1091, rallied outside Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC) this morning, calling on Cooperman Barnabas to drop its proposed cuts to sick leave and other paid time off and to bargain a contract that improves nurse-to-patient staffing and provides fair wages and affordable healthcare coverage.

Speakers at the rally, which began at 8 a.m. ET in the middle of a work week, included U.S. Rep. Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Charles Wowkanech (President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO), Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie and Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill (both of LD 27), Essex County Board of Commissioners President A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, Essex County Commissioners Wayne Richardson and Leonard Luciano, CWA Local 1091 union leaders and members, and Andy Cassagnol (1199SEIU Executive Vice President). Nurses from the NJ Nurses Union, CWA District 1, and several other unions and community groups attended to show solidarity and demand better working conditions.

The hospital's proposal would cut annual sick leave by more than half and reduce nurses' paid holiday, personal, and vacation time. Nurses say the cuts are especially dangerous in a profession where workers routinely face illness and infectious disease, and where adequate time off protects patients as much as it protects the people caring for them. They also point out that the hospital is asking them to give back benefits they negotiated and have relied on for years, while chronic short staffing goes unaddressed.

Billy Gallagher, Assistant to the Vice President of CWA District 1, issued the following statement:

"This morning, nurses stood outside their own hospital to say something that should not need saying: you cannot ask the people who care for the sick to give up the time they need to get well. They are speaking out because they know safe staffing and sick leave protect patients, not just nurses. Cooperman Barnabas is a flagship hospital within RWJBarnabas Health, which is New Jersey's largest hospital system, and it can afford to settle a fair contract. The only open question is whether it wants to put people over profits."

Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, said:

“The nurses at Cooperman Barnabas are fighting for safe staffing levels that ensure patients get the level of care they deserve. Nurses are leaving the profession at alarming rates due to burnout, excessive work schedules, and patient loads that are simply unacceptable. Cooperman and Robert Wood Johnson have an opportunity to correct that now during these contract negotiations. I urge them to listen to these workers and bargain a contract that addresses staffing levels head-on and provides them with adequate time off,” concluded Wowkanech.

Shannon Gomes, President of the New Jersey Nurses Union (NJNU), CWA Local 1091, said in a prepared statement:

“As nurses, we strive to give our patients the best possible care that we can. At times, that is difficult given how many patients we have to care for. That is why our fight for decades has always been, and will continue to be, enforceable, safe staff-to-patient ratios at the government level. Currently, we are fighting for enforceable safe staffing guidelines.

“At this time, the Medical Center doesn’t believe that there is a staffing problem. However, based on the staffing complaint forms both parties receive and the survey we conducted, there is definitely a disconnect.

“The Medical Center has additionally proposed a new paid time off package that would drastically reduce the amount of time a nurse at CBMC would be eligible to earn, including reducing sick time to just the state-mandated minimum of 40 hours, which would not leave anyone enough time to recover from illness or injury to ensure they are able to provide their best care to patients on the job.”

Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie (LD-27), who spoke at the rally, said: “Nurses truly are the heartbeat of medicine! I was proud to stand with the hardworking nurses of CWA Local 1091 at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center this morning in support of those who dedicate their lives to caring for our communities. It is our responsibility to take care of them, too. Ensuring fair wages, safe staffing levels, and quality benefits is essential to supporting our nursing workforce and the patients who depend on them.”

Jason Ajiake, community member and Political Director at 1199SEIU shared that "Less than three years ago, I lost my father-in-law at Barnabas after he contracted the flu. He was only 61 years old. While nothing can bring him back, I firmly believe his outcome could have been different if the hospital had adequate staffing and enough beds to meet patient needs. No family should have to wonder whether their loved one would still be here if there had been more nurses, more support staff, or more available capacity. Safe staffing saves lives. That's why I support the nurses as they bargain for a fair contract—one that helps ensure hospitals can recruit and retain the staff needed to provide safe, quality care for every patient."

About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 working men and women in public service, education, telecommunications, customer service, healthcare, media, airlines, and manufacturing. District One represents 70,000 total members in New Jersey.