“Butler Hospital is a safety net for so many people for so many reasons. That’s why it’s so painful to see management treat the very people who made that care possible as if they’re disposable. We’re not.” - Mary-Catherine Duffy
ACCESS EVENT PHOTOS & VIDEO | Credit: Dominique Sindayiganza | @sindayiganza
Providence: Last night, hundreds of Butler Hospital union workers, family members, fellow union members, clergy and community allies gathered for a candlelight vigil to re-affirm the value of the care and dedicated frontline staff as they provide essential mental health services every day. In response to Care New England's recently announced plans to permanently replace long-time staff, speakers described the irreplaceable impact of the care provided by the longtime staff at Butler for their own family members. They were joined by local faith leaders including Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Reverend Gabrielle Sclafani, Mark Sutherland from St. Martin's Episcopal Church and Rabbi Neimeiser from Temple Beth-El.
Established in 1844, Butler Hospital is considered the oldest hospital in Rhode Island and was founded to treat psychiatric illnesses. Today, it continues to play a vital role as the region’s leading facility for mental health and substance abuse support, a need that has grown significantly since the pandemic. In the many years since it began, Butler frontline staff have provided life-saving care and support to patients from all walks of life.
During last night’s vigil, speakers shared the following testimony:
Providence: Last night, hundreds of Butler Hospital union workers, family members, fellow union members, clergy and community allies gathered for a candlelight vigil to re-affirm the value of the care and dedicated frontline staff as they provide essential mental health services every day. In response to Care New England's recently announced plans to permanently replace long-time staff, speakers described the irreplaceable impact of the care provided by the longtime staff at Butler for their own family members. They were joined by local faith leaders including Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Reverend Gabrielle Sclafani, Mark Sutherland from St. Martin's Episcopal Church and Rabbi Neimeiser from Temple Beth-El.
Established in 1844, Butler Hospital is considered the oldest hospital in Rhode Island and was founded to treat psychiatric illnesses. Today, it continues to play a vital role as the region’s leading facility for mental health and substance abuse support, a need that has grown significantly since the pandemic. In the many years since it began, Butler frontline staff have provided life-saving care and support to patients from all walks of life.
During last night’s vigil, speakers shared the following testimony:
- Mary-Catherine Duffy, Social Services Clinician, Butler Hospital: “I’ve quite literally grown up at Butler Hospital. I was just three years old when my mom first became a patient there. Over the years, Butler has been a lifeline for our family, providing the care and support my mom needed to survive and heal. As an employee, I know Butler Hospital is a safety net for so many people for so many reasons. That’s why it’s so painful to see management treat the very people who made that care possible as if they’re disposable. We’re not.”
- Sy Bedrick, Clinical Social Worker and former SEIU 1199NE member at Youth Pride, Inc: "I’ve seen firsthand how care at Butler can turn a person’s life around. I’ve sat in intakes with clients going through the worst days of their life, and seen the Butler staff approach these individuals with seasoned care that makes the clients feel safe, and feel seen. I’ve watched as clients leave inpatient stays here with a renewed sense of self, stronger, and one step closer to the lives that they want.”
- Keri Jones, Registered Nurse, Butler Hospital: “Butler is a staple in the community and has helped countless families - including my own. Butler helped save my son’s life when he was in a very dark place. As employees, we pour our hearts and souls into helping our patients heal and grow. But the stigma around mental health is reflected in how management treats us - they should value us the same way we value our patients. Whether we are nurses, housekeepers, secretaries or mental health workers, we all matter.”
- Devan Stewart, Mental Health Clinician and former Butler employee: “Butler saved my brother's life when he was going through an extremely difficult time and provided my mother with the support and assistance no other facility was able to offer her in my brother's treatment. Because of the concern and care given to him by Butler staff, my brother is now stable, living with friends and turning 34 years old. Butler Hospital is the oldest hospital in Rhode Island and the first psych hospital. Because of its reputation, everyone wanted to work there. Now there are over one hundred vacancies. For my family—and for so many others—Butler is part of our story. We urge leadership to recognize the humanity of its workforce and return to the values that made Butler a place of healing and hope.
The more than 800 healthcare professionals represented by SEIU 1199NE continue to call on hospital leadership to recognize their irreplaceable commitment to patient care by ensuring safe staffing levels, fair and livable wages, and improved workplace safety conditions. They stand ready to return to bargaining at the first available opportunity to end the unfair labor practice strike.
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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.