Butler Hospital, striking union workers unable to reach contract agreement in latest bargaining
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Striking workers and Butler Hospital were unable to reach a contract agreement during a pair of bargaining sessions Tuesday and Thursday, according to statements from both the SEIU 1199NE union and the hospital.
More than 200 workers of the union’s 800 member ranks were on hand for the eight-hour Thursday session, according to the union, and union bargaining committee member Dawn Williams said that the hospital “refused to offer wages that lift our members out of poverty.”
“It shouldn’t be this hard to get Butler to pay us fairly and ensure our safety on the job,” said Williams.
“We know the money is there.”
The statement also cited a report confirmed by the Providence Journal that Butler Hospital parent company Care New England sold a portion of property to Laurelmead Realty, LLC for $15.7 million.
When reached for comment on the bargaining session, Butler Hospital President and COO Mary Marran said that the hospital came to the table with a “readiness to move forward,” but “the union provided no meaningful responses or counterproposals.”
Marran detailed the hospital’s contract proposal to the union, which she said includes:
- 16% across-the-board raises for off-step employees
- Up to 35% wage increases for the lowest-paid roles
- $0 premium health plan
- No change to pension benefits for current employees
- A new workplace safety task force and support plan
“We strongly encourage SEIU 1199 NE to consider this offer so that our staff can return to doing what they do best—caring for those who depend on us,” said Marran.
The next bargaining session between the two sides has not yet been scheduled.
