האגודה הישראלית לחקר יחסי עבודה

Two years of court hearings culminated in the decision, which will cost the troubled hospital — which currently has an interested buyer — about $2.5 million for just two nurse interns owed back pay and contributions to their retirement plans.

The labor union represents 300 workers in the case, who accused Meadowlands of improper wages to interns, changes to health insurance plans and failure to make 401(k) payments, according to HPAE. In addition, the hospital improperly laid off staff, refused the rights of the union staff to meet with hospital members and made threats in retaliation to union activity, according to HPAE.

“These workers have persevered and continued to provide care to the community, even as their rights were systematically and continuously violated,” said Ann Twomey, president of HPAE. “We applaud this decision, and intend to pursue every legal means to make sure that Meadowlands’ owners set aside adequate funds to repay workers their rightful wages and earned benefits.”

The decision from the judge Thursday cites the following violations the hospital is required to address:

• Making retirement fund contributions of 2 percent into each employee's 401(k) account going back to October 2012
• Reimbursing 90 nurse interns for the difference between the minimum wages they received and the wages of other union nurses. The hospital was paying them minimum wage or nothing at all.
• Offering employment to workers improperly laid-off.
• Allowing union representatives access to the hospital to meet with members.
• Providing the union information that had been denied regarding the findings of hospital accreditation inspections, and union rights for employees of affiliated employer Veritas.

HPAE is still calculating the total amount owed by the hospital.