Inspira Case Managers Vote To Join Union

Registered Nurse Case Managers who work at Inspira Health’s medical centers in Vineland, Elmer, and a satellite emergency department in Bridgeton (Cumberland and Salem counties) recently voted to join the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE) union, Local 5131. The vote was 22-2.

Inspira RN Case Managers help patients transition from the hospital to the next step in their care—whether home, rehab, or long-term care—by setting up post-hospital services, equipment, and facility placement.

“I felt the call to organize because nurse case managers play a crucial role in coordinating support, tools and education for patients to improve their overall well-being and better manage their own health,” RN Case Manager Jena Fiorile said. “A continuously increasing workload coupled with critically low staffing makes it nearly impossible to do our jobs effectively. I’m excited that we’ve won a seat at the table to begin addressing these issues with our employer.”

In a separate election, workers at Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Inc. also voted by an overwhelming margin to join New Jersey’s largest healthcare union.

The workers—Registered Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses, Lead Advanced Practice Nurses; Nurse Practitioners; Field Nurses; Clinical Educators; Social Workers; Bereavement Counselors; Spiritual Support Counselors; and Music Therapists—voted by mail 95-27 to join HPAE.

The Samaritan and Inspira Health workers will now have to negotiate contracts with their respective employers.

HPAE President Debbie White, RN, welcomed the healthcare workers to the union family. “These elections show tremendous solidarity and commitment,” White said. We congratulate them on the wins! Unions give workers a voice and when healthcare workers have a greater voice in their workplace, patients always benefit.”