Butler Hospital, union workers agree on new contract including pay and healthcare guarantees

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — After a three-month strike and numerous bargaining sessions, Butler Hospital and SEIU 1199NE workers agreed on and ratified a new four-year contract Monday.

99 percent of voting workers voted in favor of the new deal, which one union member said contains “lasting impactful changes” for the facility’s employees.

“This resolution is a sign of true unity that brings the hospital and its mission forward,” said Brooke Huminiski, a Clinical Social Worker.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support of so many in our community as well as elected leaders, especially House Speaker Shekarchi who helped us find a pathway forward toward resolution.”

According to a statement from the union, the new contract includes:

• Language that ensures no current employee will earn less than $20 an hour by the contract’s conclusion. This amounts to a $6,000 a year pay increase.
• Maintained healthcare benefits with controlled costs.
• Improved workplace safety with financial support for workers injured in site violence. A new workplace violence time bank with contributions from both Butler and union members will account for these funds.
• Secured and affordable retirement for current and future workers.
• Educational benefits
• Equity and inclusion provisions with Butler provided and shared costs of “tri-lingual translation of medical and retirement benefits as well the union contract.”

“This contract ends the strike and, most importantly, ensures that caregivers can return to their patients,” said Butler Hospital representative Hillary Lima.

“While this has been a long and challenging process, both sides worked hard throughout negotiations to reach this resolution, and we are grateful for the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.”

Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi commented on the resolution reached by both sides:

“Relief is on the way for patients needing the critical and in some cases life-saving mental health care provided at Butler Hospital,” said Shekarchi.

“It is great news for every Rhode Islander that the experienced frontline health care workers at Butler Hospital are going back to work.”

Speaker Shekarchi worked to bring both parties to the negotiating table early in the union strike.

“Sometimes in tough negotiations an outside voice helps bring the parties together,” said Shekarchi.

“Under the agreement patients will again be able to access all the mental health care services offered at Butler, frontline workers will earn better compensation, the hospital will have more predictability, and there will be increased collaboration on workplace safety. Everyone wins moving forward!”