Butler Hospital workers begin planned strike

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Butler Hospital workers began their planned strike Thursday morning outside of the facility.

The strike was organized by the SEIU 1199 union which represents more than 800 staff workers.

Union workers allege Care New England’s management is not addressing concerns about workplace safety and wages.

The union said 91 percent of the staff they represent voted to authorize the strike.

One staff member said she’s hoping Butler will come back to the table for negotiations.

An informational picket also began at 11 a.m. Thursday at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence.

However, Care New England said they did not walk away from negotiations.

The president and COO of Butler Hospital said in part:

Butler Hospital has been and remains committed to reaching a fair and responsible agreement. It was the union, not the hospital, that walked away from discussions on May 7th. The union released its bargaining committee and left the hotel where the parties were negotiating with no notice to the hospital.