Providence - Today Wednesday, 7/23, hundreds of Women & Infants caregivers will hold an informational picket to demand Care New England immediately cease its escalating anti-union, illegal tactics against workers at the expense of patient care. On the day before workers were set to picket, Women & Infants announced a new round of lay-offs.
This past Friday, Care New England issued a press release vilifying its own workforce in their efforts to bring serious patient and safety concerns directly to management as a group because CNE has refused to engage in existing processes to resolve issues. This was the same conduct that was ruled unlawful by a National Labor Relations Board administrative judge in an unfair labor practice trial last year.
On May 15 - the exact day Butler Hospital caregivers began their own unfair labor practices strike - Women & Infants announced it would be laying off at least nine essential workers during one of its busiest seasons. Layoffs include 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 is the latest in a years-long pattern by CNE to silence and intimidate workers for raising concerns about serious patient care issues, including a staffing crisis. Last year, in response to CNE’s unprecedented number of unfair labor practices and arbitrations, over 90% of 1,500 Women & Infants members voted to strike. By retaliating against workers, Women & Infants is jeopardizing the quality of care to mothers and babies, creating a hostile environment that drives low morale and high turnover.
This past Friday, Care New England issued a press release vilifying its own workforce in their efforts to bring serious patient and safety concerns directly to management as a group because CNE has refused to engage in existing processes to resolve issues. This was the same conduct that was ruled unlawful by a National Labor Relations Board administrative judge in an unfair labor practice trial last year.
On May 15 - the exact day Butler Hospital caregivers began their own unfair labor practices strike - Women & Infants announced it would be laying off at least nine essential workers during one of its busiest seasons. Layoffs include 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 is the latest in a years-long pattern by CNE to silence and intimidate workers for raising concerns about serious patient care issues, including a staffing crisis. Last year, in response to CNE’s unprecedented number of unfair labor practices and arbitrations, over 90% of 1,500 Women & Infants members voted to strike. By retaliating against workers, Women & Infants is jeopardizing the quality of care to mothers and babies, creating a hostile environment that drives low morale and high turnover.
- WHAT: Informational Picket at Women & Infants Hospital to Demand End to CNE’s Illegal Behavior
- WHEN: Wednesday, July 23 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM
- WHERE: Women & Infants Hospital: 101 Dudley St, Providence RI 02905
- WHO: Hundreds of frontline caregivers and community allies
For more information or to request an interview with a member of SEIU 1199NE please contact comms@seiu1199ne.org or Amelia Abromaitis at (484) 363-9783 or Rachel Rooney at (860)280-6443.
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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.