Butler Hospital Workers to Begin Unfair Labor Practice Strike Thursday at 6AM as Women & Infants Caregivers to Hold Info Picket

Providence: This Thursday, May 15 at 6AM, frontline staff at Butler Hospital will begin their open-ended unfair labor practice strike for workplace safety and improved care after Care New England has refused to consider the union’s most recent contract proposal to raise wages and address a growing workplace violence crisis. On the same day at 11AM, frontline staff at Women & Infants will hold an informational picket in front of the hospital to demand Care New England stop making unilateral changes to working conditions in violation of their contract and putting workers at risk.

SEIU 1199 New England represents over 800 frontline staff at Butler Hospital including registered nurses, mental health workers, clerical, environmental service and dietary staff who began bargaining in March. On April 25, 91% of the entire workforce of frontline staff at Butler Hospital or 99% of workers who participated, voted to authorize the strike citing management’s refusal to address their ongoing concerns with workplace safety and wages below market value. Patient assaults on workers that required medical attention have increased fourfold from 2021-24 and there has been a 79% increase in overall workplace injuries in the same time period. SEIU 1199NE’s negotiating committee submitted proposals as late as 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 7 but hospital management has not responded.

On May, May 12, the union filed unfair labor practices against the employer, identifying numerous categories of behavior by the hospital that are both unlawful and unacceptable to the union members, including 1) refusing to bargain in good faith 2) threatening, coercing and retaliating against workers for protected union activity 3) surveilling workers as they engage in union activity and 4) making unilateral changes to condition of employment after the contract expired.

At Women & Infants Hospital, frontline staff will be holding an informational picket calling for the hospital to cease making unilateral changes to working conditions in violation of their contract and for an end to abusive practices to dietary and EVS workers by Sodexo, the food services and facilities management company contracted by CNE. Over 2,000 union workers throughout the hospital are part of SEIU 1199 New England and, earlier this year, won a ground-breaking contract settlement with 13% wage increases, protections to pension and healthcare benefits and landmark expansion of the union’s training program. 

ACCESS PHOTOS AND VIDEO HERE | Photo credit: Dominique Sindayiganza | @sindayiganza