Union workers at Women and Infants Hospital ratify new contract

December 6, 2024 3:49 pm

Gino DeAngelis,

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — SEIU 1199NE said that workers at Women and Infants Hospital “overwhelmingly” ratified a new contract on Friday.

The new contract was tentatively agreed upon on Dec. 4 in order to avoid a strike that was voted to begin on Dec. 12.

The union said the contract included the following benefits:

A 13% wage increase over the length of the contract, including a 7% raise within four weeks of contract ratification;
Full participation in the SEIU 1199 Training Fund to provide workers with more access to training opportunities including advanced tuition reimbursement;
Secured pension benefits;
Defended health insurance costs against proposed raises;
Protected union jobs against subcontracting to non-union workers;
Preserved parental leave against proposed cuts;

The contract was being negotiated since October, and union members took part in a one-day informational picket on Nov. 12.

“We were able to win key job protections against the hospital’s plans to subcontract our work to non-union workers and also preserve our pension,” bargaining committee member John Avjian said. “It is a huge relief knowing my retirement is secure with one of the best retirement plans in the country.”