Dear Mary Ellen Clyne, CEO, Clara Maass Medical Center

Our former President and CEO Mr. Barry Ostrowsky's communication dated August 10, 2022 to all employees of the RWJBarnabas Health highlighted the 170 Million Comprehensive Compensation Enhancement package for 38,000 employees introducing the "One System, One Family" framework.

This package outlined the assurance of competitive wages and solidification of compensation parity with clear understanding that the health system remains committed to the recruitment of new talent and retention of valuable, experienced employees across RWJBarnabas Health. The system wide enhancement package remains a major, positive breakthrough benefited by ALL employees of RWJBarnabas Health, but inexplicably and unreasonably excluded the Senior Registered Nurses at Clara Maass Medical Center with 30 or more years of credited experience.

The Clara Maass Senior RNS are core members of the professional nursing team who have proven their loyalty to the health system with their collective longevity, allegiance, competency, and dependability.

These nurses are qualified, valuable team members who should be equally eligible and deserving of the same 170 Million Comprehensive Compensation package to the fullest capability. This capacity should extend beyond the current offer of $3.04/hour capped at $58.36 to ALL Senior RNS regardless of varying years of experience (ranging from 30–44 years), effectively discrediting individual longevity and elimination of experience differential. Age and years of experience should not be prohibitive, discriminatory factors for Senior RNS to be offered inequitable salary increase relative to nurses with lesser years of experience. A nurse's age, experience, and years of service should be quantified as valuable assets for a reputable institution like Clara Maass who values high level nursing skills, competent practice, experienced preceptor/mentorship, and solid standard of professionalism.

WE, the undersigned Senior RNS, are respectfully requesting thoughtful reconsideration for commensurate compensation, through the timely implementation of the following:

• Appropriate recognition and remuneration for every Senior RN through elimination of the 30 year wage cap currently implemented at Clara Maass and instead, FULL application of the 47 year salary scale currently practiced at Barnabas Cooperman, the same salary scale currently offered to 93% of Clara Maass RNS with less than 30 years of experience.

• Fair and equitable implementation of retroactive pay to August 2022, the same date memorialized in Mr. Ostrowsky's communication for system wide increase that included ALL Clara Maass employees, with the exception and exclusion of over 500 RNS.

It is with highest confidence that we can mutually achieve equitable and expeditious resolution, to move forward with a unified goal of continuing to best serve our patient community. We stand in unity and solidarity with the highest goals and standard of excellence compatible and congruent with the mission of Clara Maass Medical Center. We anticipate and respectfully request a timely response from Clara Maass management to continue this professional pursuit of ensuring employee morale and merit.

Respectfully submitted,

Clara Maass Nurses