News Summary
Butler Hospital has begun hiring to permanently replace nearly 800 union workers amid a strike that has entered its third week. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199NE is demanding better wages and job safety. Concerns rise over the impact on employees and patient care. Union leaders allege unfair labor practices, while hospital officials face significant financial pressure. As negotiations stall, striking workers demonstrate for quicker resolutions, highlighting a severe health care labor dispute.
Providence – Butler Hospital has started to post job listings to permanently replace nearly 800 unionized workers as their strike enters its third week. This decision has been labeled a “necessary choice” by hospital officials in response to the ongoing indefinite labor strike led by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199NE.
Mary Marran, the president and COO of Butler Hospital, emphasized that these actions are essential for maintaining patient care and ensuring the stability of hospital services during a challenging time for both the institution and its staff. The strike, which involves approximately 800 frontline staff represented by SEIU 1199NE, was initiated due to a contract dispute with Butler Hospital and its parent company, Care New England (CNE). Workers are demanding higher wages, stronger job safety measures, and improved benefits.
Employees who are permanently replaced during this process will not automatically revert to their positions but will be placed on a preferential hire list as mandated by federal labor law. This stipulation adds another layer of complexity to an already tense situation, with many workers expressing apprehension about their future employment.
Amid the labor dispute, SEIU 1199NE filed an unfair labor practice charge against Butler Hospital on May 12, alleging several “unlawful and unacceptable” behaviors by the employer. The strike officially commenced on May 15, following a decisive vote in which 91% of the union workforce supported the measure. It stems from unsuccessful contract negotiations that took place after the workers’ contracts expired on March 31.
In the days following the strike initiation, union representatives presented new contract proposals to Butler Hospital after an extended negotiation session with a federal moderator on May 29. However, the hospital announced it would not respond to these proposals until the following week, effectively delaying negotiations past the expiration of workers’ health insurance benefits on May 31. In the wake of this expiration, hundreds of striking workers have registered for free or low-cost insurance through HealthSourceRI.
On June 2, hundreds of striking workers marched to CNE headquarters, demanding prompt action towards a contract settlement. Union leadership has criticized hospital management for offering proposals that include lower wages and increased health care costs, further fueling dissatisfaction among the workforce. Demonstrations by striking workers have drawn substantial public and legislative attention, with over 300 individuals gathering at the State House on May 20 to urge hospital leaders to engage in good faith negotiations.
Butler Hospital has faced significant financial challenges since the strike began, primarily due to its expenditure of over $2 million on hiring temporary staff. This expenditure is impacting the budget for future proposals and casting doubt on the hospital’s financial flexibility in the ongoing dispute.
The SEIU 1199NE has reported a notable rise in patient assaults on staff between 2022 and 2024, underscoring the union’s calls for enhanced workplace safety measures as part of their demands. One of the proposals includes the establishment of a workplace violence committee to further address safety concerns within the hospital.
Furthermore, some striking workers have conveyed worries about losing their health insurance and facing financial hardships due to the ongoing strike. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator, a single adult in Providence requires an hourly income of $23.46 to support themselves adequately, highlighting the deep-rooted wage concerns these workers face in their negotiations.
While the strike continues to unfold, Butler Hospital leadership has stated their commitment to providing safe and high-quality care during this tumultuous time. The situation remains dynamic, with Rhode Island lawmakers actively urging both parties to resume negotiations and reach a resolution that satisfies the needs of all stakeholders involved.
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Additional Resources
- Rhode Island Current
- Wikipedia: Healthcare Strike
- Fierce Healthcare
- Google Search: Providence nurses strike
- WPRI
- Google Scholar: Butler Hospital strike
- Providence Journal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Healthcare Labor Disputes
- KPTV
- Google News: Butler Hospital labor dispute
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
