Healthcare workers unite in protest at Butler Hospital, demanding improved wages and safety measures.
Negotiations have resumed amid a strike involving over 800 workers at Butler Hospital, ongoing since May 15. Represented by SEIU 1199NE, workers are demanding better wages, workplace safety, and improved benefits. Staffing shortages continue as the hospital spends $2 million on temporary workers. The strike reflects heightened frustration regarding contract negotiations and workplace conditions, particularly amidst rising incidents of workplace violence. Lawmakers are urging hospital management to promptly return to negotiations to resolve this labor dispute.
Providence, Rhode Island — Negotiations have resumed amid a strike involving hundreds of workers at Butler Hospital, which has been ongoing since May 15. The workers, represented by the SEIU 1199NE union, are demanding better wages, improved workplace safety, and enhanced benefits. Over 800 frontline staff members are striking as their contracts expired at the end of March, leading to an impasse in negotiations that began over two months ago.
The workers’ last paychecks were issued on May 23, and they are set to lose their health benefits on May 31. The strike, the first labor action at Butler Hospital in 37 years, reflects mounting frustration among hospital staff with management’s handling of contract negotiations and workplace conditions.
With more than 100 job openings reported at Butler Hospital, the SEIU 1199NE union has attributed staffing shortages to the current strike. In response to the labor action, the hospital has spent approximately $2 million on temporary workers to maintain patient care services, maintaining that operations remain unaffected amid the strike.
Efforts for a fair contract include Butler Hospital’s proposed wage increases of at least 18% for off-scale employees and over 40% for some of the lowest-wage employees. Furthermore, the hospital has offered three health insurance options, including one that requires no premiums from the employee while preserving the pension program for current workers. However, union leaders claim that the hospital management has not adequately responded to revised proposals made after the last bargaining session on May 7.
Increased workplace violence is another key issue driving the strike. Reports indicate a significant rise in incidents, with a 41% increase in violence from 2022 to 2024 and a total of 134 assaults documented in 2025 alone. Employees are advocating for the establishment of a workplace violence committee to analyze these incidents and recommend necessary safety measures.
A rally held at the Rhode Island State House on May 20 saw nearly 300 workers come together to pressure management into resuming negotiations and to highlight the need for better funding for healthcare services. Support from lawmakers has emerged, with many urging the hospital administration to return to the negotiating table to resolve the ongoing labor dispute.
Hospital leadership, including President and COO Mary Marran, has acknowledged the financial pressures faced by the Rhode Island healthcare system while calling for continued discussions. The hospital has stated that its facilities remain operational and has denied any concerns regarding patient safety. This follows a review by the Rhode Island Department of Health that found no issues during the ongoing strike.
Union representatives have criticized Butler Hospital’s financial investment in temporary workers, arguing that these resources should focus on supporting existing healthcare staff amidst rising operational costs. Legislative discussions related to the financial state of hospitals in Rhode Island are ongoing, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced investment in healthcare workforce resources.
As negotiations continue, the situation at Butler Hospital remains tense, with union members advocating for their rights and management striving to ensure patient care standards are upheld during a significant labor dispute.
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