News Summary
Union workers at Women & Infants Hospital organized an information picket to protest against unfair labor practices and poor working conditions. Led by the SEIU 1199 NE union, they are demanding management respect their contract and improve conditions for dietary and environmental services workers. The protest highlights ongoing labor tensions within Care New England, coinciding with a strike at Butler Hospital over similar issues. Despite recent strides towards a new contract, the union remains committed to advocating for workers’ rights amid challenges in the healthcare sector.
Providence – Union workers at Women & Infants Hospital organized an information picket on Thursday to protest against alleged unfair labor practices and working conditions. The event began at 11 a.m. and was set to continue until 4 p.m. outside the hospital located on Dudley Street. The demonstration was spearheaded by the SEIU 1199 NE union, which represents a segment of the hospital’s employees.
Union officials are demanding that the hospital management put an end to what they describe as unilateral changes to working conditions, focusing particularly on dietary and environmental services workers who are reportedly facing abusive practices. Participants in the picket expressed their concerns that the hospital is not respecting the terms of their current contract and is retaliating against those who voice their grievances. Union representatives noted that recent actions taken by the hospital compromise the well-being of both workers and patients.
The protest coincided with a strike at Butler Hospital over similar issues of workplace safety and wage disputes, highlighting ongoing labor tensions within Care New England, the organization that operates both facilities. The workers at both hospitals have voiced their frustrations concerning inadequate wage increases over the past four years and staffing shortages impacting patient care.
Despite the ongoing disputes, Women & Infants Hospital is making strides forward, as it prepares to open the new Brown University Labor and Delivery Center. This state-of-the-art 20-bed facility, covering approximately 18,000 square feet, will replace the outdated labor and delivery area established in 1986. The construction of the new center involved more than $35 million, with significant financial contributions from Brown University.
The new labor and delivery rooms, which are roughly 440 square feet each, will feature modern amenities such as birthing tubs, specialized equipment like Panda Warmers, and user-friendly slings to enhance patient care during delivery. This upgrade aims to improve the experience for mothers and babies, with the new center expected to welcome its first patients on Tuesday and fully transition all labor and delivery services by the end of the week. The hospital plays a vital role in Rhode Island’s healthcare system, delivering approximately 81% of the state’s newborns.
Workers at the hospital had previously voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike, with around 90% support expressed by union members. This decision came after claims of unfair labor practices and was spurred by a significant picket held on November 12, which attracted over 1,200 staff members—the largest local union action in history. Negotiations to reach a new agreement had been underway since October following the expiration of the previous contract at the end of November.
Recently, a tentative three-year contract agreement was reached with union members, which led to the withdrawal of a planned strike notice set for December 12. The agreement was perceived as a positive step, preserving the union’s pension plan, granting salary increases, and enhancing benefits aimed at improving employee recruitment and retention.
Despite the agreement, union leaders remain committed to advocating for workers’ rights, vowing to continue negotiations to ensure the health and safety of hospital staff and improve conditions for patients. The situation at Women & Infants Hospital underscores the broader challenges faced within the healthcare sector as workers push for better treatment and working conditions amidst ongoing labor disputes.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Turn to 10 News
- Wikipedia: Labor rights
- Providence Journal
- Google Search: Women and Infants Hospital Providence
- Rhode Island Current
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Labor Union
- ABC 6 News
- Google News: Women and Infants Hospital Union
