Striking Butler Workers Begin Preparing for an Overnight Outside CNE Headquarters
    News

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12 2025 | CONTACT: Amelia Abromaitis - 484-363-9783 and Eric Johanson -EJohanson@seiu1199ne.org | 860-280-6443

    Striking Butler Workers Begin Preparing for an Overnight Outside CNE Headquarters

    12 June 2025

    Eight hours after their sit-in began, striking Butler workers will be outside Care New England all night and all day until 5PM tomorrow

    Providence: Eight hours after Butler Hospital union employees began their 30 hour sit-in in front of the Care New England headquarters, workers are preparing to hold vigil all night long, lasting until 5PM tomorrow night. Today marks the one month anniversary of the Butler Hospital unfair labor practice strike - each hour represents one day that workers have now been on strike. Still without a contract agreement, hundreds of striking workers are demanding more urgency from Butler mangement to settle a contract.

    Butler management has resorted to insults, dismissing our efforts to solve our hospital's workplace violence epidemic and staffing crisis as nothing more than "public theatrics." There is nothing theatrical about a 41% rise in violent patient assaults on staff over the last two years. I'll be sitting outside Care New England headquarters all night because I am tired of the delay tactics and deception. We have been ready to bargain all week with or without a federal mediator but management refuses to sit across the table from us and bargain in good faith.

    - Dan Camp, Behavioral Call Intake

    SEIU 1199NE represents over 800 workers at Butler Hospital who have been working without a contract since March 31. Workers began their unfair labor practice strike on May 15 in order to address steadily rising rates of workplace violence, short staffing and low wages. Since then, despite both sides meeting repeatedly, management has announced on June 3 they will permanently replace long-time Butler Hospital employees after terminating their health insurance on May 31. The hospital has since posted around 400 positions.

    Striking workers will be avaible for interviews from now until 5PM tomorrow outside of CNE headquarters.

    • What: Striking Butler Hospital continue 30 hour sit-in, preparing to be out all night.
    • When: Thursday, June 12, 2025 beginning 11:00 AM until Friday, June 13, 2025 5:00PM
    • Where: Care New England headquarters: 4 Richmond Square, Providence, RI02906
    • Who: Hundreds of Butler Hospital union workers 

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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.