Butler Hospital Strike Enters Record Duration Amid Disputes

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Healthcare workers demonstrating for fair wages and job security at Butler Hospital.

News Summary

The oldest hospital strike in Rhode Island’s history continues as Butler Hospital urges striking workers to consider a final offer with wage increases. Union representatives criticize the proposal for neglecting vital roles outside nursing. Meanwhile, layoffs at Women & Infants Hospital have sparked wider unrest among healthcare workers, highlighting concerns over job security and patient care. As negotiations remain tense, both parties face pressure to reach an agreement to resolve escalating labor disputes in the healthcare sector.

Providence, RI – Butler Hospital and its owner, Care New England, have issued a call for striking workers to respond to a final offer presented nearly two weeks ago, amid ongoing labor disputes that have become the longest hospital strike in Rhode Island’s history. The hospital management is urging unionized workers to consider their proposal, which includes a significant wage increase for nursing staff, while negotiations continue regarding the conditions and pay for other healthcare positions.

The strike commenced after Care New England submitted a proposal on July 11, outlining terms that they claim are aligned with a recent agreement made between Rhode Island Hospital and the United Nurses and Allied Professionals. Key elements of the offered terms for nurses include an average hourly wage increase from $34.50 to $36, alongside an additional paid holiday. However, hospital management has criticized the union, represented by SEIU 1199, for seeming indifferent to both the facility’s operations and its patients’ well-being, stating that a resolution is needed to end the strike.

Union representatives contest that while the proposal benefits certain staff, particularly nurses and mental health professionals, it largely overlooks the contributions of other vital roles such as those in medical records, clerical support, dietary services, housekeeping, and social work. In response, workers are currently developing a counterproposal that emphasizes healthcare benefits across the board for all employees, but as of now, no meeting has been arranged for further discussions with Care New England.

The prevailing strike has also coincided with layoff notices from Women & Infants Hospital, which affected at least nine employees on the same day the strike began. This action has united the unions across both hospitals in their protest against the measures taken by Care New England, reflecting a broader concern within the healthcare sector regarding job security and workforce conditions.

Allegations of management targeting whistleblowers, who have raised concerns about patient safety and staffing adequacy, have also surfaced, highlighting tensions in the workplace. In a show of solidarity, 34 Rhode Island lawmakers have collectively signed a letter opposing the layoffs, suggesting that state resources should prioritize supporting healthcare workers instead of reducing staff.

Despite reporting record profits for eight consecutive quarters and achieving an improved bond rating, Care New England’s decision to implement layoffs has come under scrutiny. The affected Pre-Admission Testing department plays a critical role in coordinating surgeries, with remaining staff voicing concerns about the potential for increased workloads and a detriment to patient care quality. Employees have shared personal accounts reflecting their apprehensions about the consequences of these layoffs, including disruptions to surgical schedules and the risk of errors in medical procedures.

As the strike at Butler Hospital persists, state and local leaders are actively advocating for a resolution, emphasizing the urgent need to address the underlying issues of fair compensation, safe working environments, and adequate staffing levels that have caused wider unrest within Rhode Island’s healthcare system. In a ripple effect, unionized nursing and staff members across Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital have also voted to authorize a potential strike, expressing dissatisfaction with contract negotiations that continue without resolution.

According to state labor officials, locked-out Butler employees are now eligible for unemployment benefits, as both parties remain engaged in discussions. The circumstances surrounding the Butler Hospital strike are emblematic of escalating tensions in the region’s healthcare sector, signaling challenges that will require continued negotiation and cooperation between management and union representatives to resolve.