Butler Hospital workers to converge at State House Rotunda with injury photos, testimony and updated statistics on the violence they experienced at work
Providence: One week after workers began their unfair labor practice strike, hundreds of Butler frontline workers will gather at the State House Rotunda to underscore the urgency of the workplace violence epidemic they are experiencing at work, driven by chronically short staffing and low wages.
They will carry images and share testimony of the injuries they experienced as a result of patient assaults. Workplace violence and injuries have been steadily increasing over the last few years. 95% of workers said in a recent survey they feel management has not been doing enough to keep them safe at work. The union will release the most updated statistics on workplace violence and injuries during tomorrow’s action.
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.
The starting wages for a Mental Health Worker at Butler is $18.27; a CNA is $18.64 and Service & Maintenance is $15.53. According to the Economic Progress Institute’s 2024 Standard of Need, $23.47 is the wage needed for a single adult to make ends meet and $25.75 for a two-parent family with two children.
SEIU 1199NE’s negotiating committee submitted a counter proposal on Wednesday evening, May 7, to management’s “last, best and final offer,” and has not heard a response since.
On 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, 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.
They will carry images and share testimony of the injuries they experienced as a result of patient assaults. Workplace violence and injuries have been steadily increasing over the last few years. 95% of workers said in a recent survey they feel management has not been doing enough to keep them safe at work. The union will release the most updated statistics on workplace violence and injuries during tomorrow’s action.
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.
The starting wages for a Mental Health Worker at Butler is $18.27; a CNA is $18.64 and Service & Maintenance is $15.53. According to the Economic Progress Institute’s 2024 Standard of Need, $23.47 is the wage needed for a single adult to make ends meet and $25.75 for a two-parent family with two children.
SEIU 1199NE’s negotiating committee submitted a counter proposal on Wednesday evening, May 7, to management’s “last, best and final offer,” and has not heard a response since.
On 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, 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.
- WHAT: One Week Anniversary Rally to Renew Call on Care New England to End Workplace Violence Epidemic
- WHERE: State House Rotunda
- WHEN: Thursday May 22 | 2:30PM
- WHO: Hundreds of striking Butler Hospital workers and community supporters
- ***VISUAL: Workers will hold photos of injuries they experienced at work and signage on updated workplace violence numbers
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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.