FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2025

Amid longest hospital strike in RI history, CNE workers at multiple facilities outline pattern of intimidation and retaliation

09 July 2025

The latest: After losing a restraining order to block workers' unemployment benefits, Butler Hospital has appealed to the State Supreme Court

PROVIDENCE: It has been nearly two months into Butler workers' unfair labor practice strike, now considered the longest hospital strike in Rhode Island history. Today, union workers from both Butler and Women & Infants Hospital spoke out about Care New England (CNE)'s sustained campaign of intimidation, harassment and retaliatory behavior that has affected both groups of caregivers and their patients.

After a series of escalating tactics against striking workers, Butler caregivers announced today the latest retaliatory move by Care New England to block the unemployment benefits awarded by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training on June 24. On June 27, Butler filed a restraining order against the DLT to stop it from granting unemployment; however, on July 7, a superior court judge rejected this restraining order on the grounds that the hospital should pursue its claims through the usual administrative appeals process. Since then, Butler Hospital has appealed the decision up to the Rhode Island State Supreme Court.

This latest move by Butler management to block our unemployment is a new low but sadly it comes as no surprise. We are dealing with an employer that has already cut off medical benefits to its own healthcare workforce, including those undergoing cancer treatment or receiving live-saving medication. We are glad a judge saw right through their increasingly desperate attempts to pressure us to accept less than we need to protect ourselves, our families and our patients. We are tired of these games and just want management to sit down with us and settle a fair contract that respects us and the work we do.

- Beth Iams, Activities Therapist, Butler Hospital

On May 15, Women & Infants announced it would be laying off at least nine essential workers during what is one of the busiest seasons for the birthing facility. This includes the elimination of the entire Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) department, which plays the vital role of pre-interviewing patients before surgery to make sure none of their current medications will result in complications. This cut is particularly problematic because the hospital plans to shift an entire department’s workload off to other - potentially non-union roles, which would be illegal per the contract. Eliminating these positions could cause a surge in surgery cancellations or errors where there won't be an account of medicinal interactions or prep before the surgery. When prompted for a reason for why the layoffs are occurring, especially during the busiest time of the year, the hospital's only response has been “we’re moving forward.”

On May 15 - the same day that Butler Hospital members started their unfair labor practice strike - I was notified by management that I was being laid off, that my position was considered redundant. I could not believe it as I am the only person in my department who does this type of authorizations. At the end of the day, I worry it is our patients who will bear the brunt of this decision. By eliminating my position and the entire pre-admissions testing department, I am really concerned about the impact it will have on patients receiving safe, properly coordinated care.

- Shonda Gross, Authorization Coordinator at Women & Infants Hospital

Even before the strike began, Butler management had already engaged in numerous categories of unlawful behavior, prompting the union to file unfair labor practice charges against the hospital on May 12. Since then, it has rolled out a series of tactics designed to intimidate workers into crossing the picket line, including announcing the termination of workers' medical benefits, offering workers a proposal worse than its “last, best and final offer,” and moving to permanently replace all striking workers.

Similarly at Women & Infants, during contract negotiations last year, over 90% of the nearly 1,500 Women & Infants union caregivers or 99% of workers who participated, voted to authorize an unfair labor practice strike after management refused to bargain in good faith and engaged in a number of unlawful ani-union behaviors including "intimidating, threatening, and in the most extreme cases – engaging in impermissive physical acts against union members in retaliation for their testimony against the hospital in a federal unfair labor practice trial before an Administrative Law Judge of the National Labor Relations Board."

For years, I’ve pushed for patient safety. I’ve raised alarms about unsafe staffing levels - levels that put mothers and newborns at risk. For that, management has targeted me. I have been hit with bullying, harassment, intimidation and attempts at entrapment by hospital administration. Then in November 2024, I joined hundreds of my co-workers to authorize our own unfair labor practice strike for some of the same reasons that Butler workers are out here today. This is a pattern and we are done accepting it.

- Justine Iadeluca, C-Section Recovery Room RN at Women & Infants Hospital

Care New England workers across the health system demand that upper management stop its illegal, anti-union behavior and work instead in good faith to settle and honor workers' contracts so they can return to focusing on providing the quality of care Rhode Island patients need and deserve.

For more information or to request an interview with a member of SEIU 1199NE please contact Amelia Abromaitis at (484) 363-9783 or Rachel Rooney at (860)280-6443.