Yesterday, hundreds of Care New England workers hit the picket line as Women & Infants announced layoffs
Providence: Day two of the Butler Hospital Unfair Labor Practice Strike began this morning at 6AM and will continue until 8PM tonight. Yesterday, hundreds of frontline staff at Butler Hospital marched the picket line in heavy rain to demand Care New England return to the bargaining table and show their commitment to settling a fair contract.
At the same time, frontline staff at Women & Infants staff held their own informational picket yesterday to demand management stop making unilateral changes to their contractual working conditions just months after workers settled a new contract after voting to strike. Earlier this week, management at Women & Infants announced the elimination of 12 positions throughout the hospital, including at the new Labor Delivery Center.
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 voted to authorize the strike citing management’s refusal to address the workplace violence crisis and wages below market value.
At the same time, frontline staff at Women & Infants staff held their own informational picket yesterday to demand management stop making unilateral changes to their contractual working conditions just months after workers settled a new contract after voting to strike. Earlier this week, management at Women & Infants announced the elimination of 12 positions throughout the hospital, including at the new Labor Delivery Center.
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 voted to authorize the strike citing management’s refusal to address the workplace violence crisis and wages below market value.
Low wages and short staffing has contributed to a steady increase of workplace violence over the last few years at Butler. 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.
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.
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.
Butler workers will continue their unfair labor practice strike at 6AM until 8PM everyday until Care New England settles a fair contract.
ACCESS EVENT PHOTOS HERE | Photo credit: Dominique Sindayiganza | @sindayiganza
###
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.