Nearly 1,700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick have walked off the job  at 7am this morning, in what is the hospital’s first strike since 2006.

The two sides have been negotiating for months over several issues, including what the nurses union says is inadequate staffing levels and a spike in their healthcare premiums.

Their most recent contract expired on June 30, after several months of bargaining. The parties then extended it through July 21.

Workers provided the hospital’s management with notice of their intent to strike on July 24.

“Our members remain deeply committed to our patients,” Local 4-200 President Judy Danella said in a statement.

“However, we must address urgent concerns, like staffing. We need enough nurses on each shift, on each floor, so we can devote more time to each patient and keep ourselves safe on the job,” she added.

The hospital has said that they have twice met the demands of the union but talks currently remain at an impasse.

“We remain willing and open to continue talking with the goal of averting a strike and reaching a fair and equitable resolution,” the hospital said in a statement.

An outside nursing agency will supply replacement nurses for about 60 days which will allow the hospital to remain fully operational.

One of the only Level 1 Trauma Centers in the state, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, which includes the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, treats over 30,000 inpatients and has over 70,000 Emergency Room visits annually.