Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and United Steelworkers Local 4-200, which represents 1,700 nurses, announced Friday afternoon they reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that began in early August.

As NJBIZ has extensively reported, the issue of safe staffing was at the heart of the dispute, which has been acrimonious — featuring a tense back-and-forth between the two sides, including disputes over the use of replacement nurses, the discontinuation of health benefits for striking nurses, picket line incidents and legal action, as well as a field hearing held by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT.

While full specifics of this deal – which will require ratification by union members – are yet to be released, both sides put out statements confirming the agreement, which will include enforceable safe staffing standards.

“Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has reached an agreement on terms with United Steel Workers 4-200, the union representing our nurses, for a new collective bargaining agreement. A memorandum of agreement was signed by both parties and will be presented over the next several days to union members through informational meetings as part of the ratification process,” Wendy Gottsegen, RWJUH spokesperson, said in a statement. “We encourage our nurses to attend these meetings and vote at the ratification sessions. The resolution reflects our shared goals of providing the highest-quality patient care and creating a safe and supportive working environment for our nurses.”

“After more than 120 days on the picket lines, we are pleased to announce that USW nurses have reached a historic agreement with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital that includes enforceable safe staffing standards in our collective bargaining agreement for the first time,” said Judy Danella, president of USW Local 4-200, who has been a nurse at the hospital since 1995. “This agreement will now go to our members for ratification.

“While we are unable to share any additional details before ratification, we are proud of the extraordinary bravery and commitment of our members, who fought endlessly for patient safety and better working conditions at RWJUH,” Danella continued.

“RWJUH has the utmost respect and appreciation for our nurse colleagues and all they do for our patients, the community and this hospital,” said Gottsegen. “We look forward to the outcome of the ratification vote.”

Updated at 11:26 a.m. ET Dec. 2, 2023:

Following the announcement of the agreement, the USW main chapter put out a press release later Friday afternoon with more insight into the tentative deal, a three-year contract that it says raises wages, caps insurance costs, and provides safe staffing ratios.

In that press release, Danella added that the nurses were grateful for the outpouring of community support they had received since the strike began in August – noting that they are looking forward to returning to work caring for their patients.

“Safe staffing is essential to both patient care and reducing burnout among health care workers,” said Danella. “This contract sets necessary staffing ratios so that we can spend more time with each of our patients and keep ourselves safe on the job.”

She also credited her fellow nurses for their strength and solidarity in reaching this deal.

“This agreement was hard-fought, but our sacrifice ultimately paid off with a fair contract that addresses nurses’ most urgent concerns,” Danella added. “The local bargaining committee unequivocally recommends ratification.”

On Friday evening, Gov. Phil Murphy put out a statement of his own – applauding the agreement and noting that since the beginning of the strike, he encouraged both sides to get in the negotiating room and resolve their issues at the bargaining table.

“Within the last week, I have had repeated conversations with both hospital and union leadership to do just that,” said Murphy. “I am pleased that Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and United Steelworkers Local 4-200 have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the indispensable role of our frontline health care workers, who provide critical services to patients throughout our state, while allowing nurses to return to their jobs. I am grateful to the many individuals who were involved in these talks for their dedication to finding a fair and acceptable solution that works for both sides.”