Stretched to the limit, healthcare workers are demanding more from their employers and state leaders
Rhode Island: Over the month of May, a record number of healthcare workers who are members of SEIU 1199NE have announced strikes and pickets at hospitals, nursing homes and home healthcare to demand safer workplaces, improved patient care and more state funding in both Rhode Island and Connecticut.
On May 3, over 500 union healthcare workers held a "No Cuts to Care" rally at the State House, to demand Governor McKee and state lawmakers invest in vital healthcare services in this year's state budget. In total, over 3,000 SEIU 1199NE healthcare workers in Rhode Island and 5,700 in Connecticut have announced plans to hold informational pickets and strikes over the next 30 days. An overview is below and more details will be announced.
On May 3, over 500 union healthcare workers held a "No Cuts to Care" rally at the State House, to demand Governor McKee and state lawmakers invest in vital healthcare services in this year's state budget. In total, over 3,000 SEIU 1199NE healthcare workers in Rhode Island and 5,700 in Connecticut have announced plans to hold informational pickets and strikes over the next 30 days. An overview is below and more details will be announced.
- VNA of Care New England Informational Picket: Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 5PM | Kent Hospital: 455 Toll Gate Road Warwick, RI 02886: SEIU 1199NE physical & occupational therapists and assistants who provide home therapy care when patients are discharged from hospitals have been bargaining with Care New England since January and their contract expired in February. Management has proposed wage increases that keep them below market, and are less than wage increases across the health system. Their paid time off package means that members would lose what scant time off they do have with their families. Though members spend long hours driving across the state to provide care, management refuses to account for this when measuring productivity, resulting in overwork and underpay.
- Butler Hospital Strike: Thursday, May 15 | 6AM | 345 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906: SEIU 1199NE represents over 800 workers who have announced an open strike beginning May 15 at 6AM if they are unable to reach a fair contract settlement with Care New England. Over 90% of workers - or 99% of workers who participated - have voted to authorize the strike in order to stop a workplace violence epidemic and chronic short staffing.
- Women & Infants Informational Picket: Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 11AM - 4PM | Women & Infants Hospital (101 Dudley St, Providence, RI 02905): Management is refusing to bargain in good faith over major changes to working conditions that could impact patient safety. They insist on calling members off of work while running units short, and they are treating members in housekeeping with disrespect as they continue to work short.
- Athena Nursing Home Strike at Three Facilities in Rhode Island: Monday, May 19 | 6AM | 1) Orchard View Manor (135 Tripps Ln, Riverside, RI 02915) 2) Heatherwood (398 Bellevue Ave, Newport, RI 02840) and 3) Oakland Grove (560 Cumberland Hill Rd, Woonsocket, RI 02895): Driven by chronic low staffing, lack of raises in years and unaffordable, low quality health insurance, workers at first Orchard View, then Heatherwood and Oakland Grove voted to join SEIU 1199NE in late 2024. They have been negotiating with Athena since February, 2025 and have announced plans to strike if they are unable to bargain a fair first contract. In addition, 5,700 nursing home workers at 51 facilities across Connecticut have given strike notices for May 19 calling on Governor Ned Lamont and state leaders to come to the table to help secure a fair agreement.
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District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents almost 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.