Healthcare workers hold informational picket at Butler Hospital

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — District 1199 SEIU New England, a union representing over 5,000 health care and service workers in Rhode Island, held an informational picket outside Butler Hospital on Monday afternoon. 

Hundreds of Butler Hospital healthcare workers gathered at the picket, calling for an end to the “workplace violence epidemic,” which SEIU 1199NE said stemmed from short staffing and low wages.

According to a spokesperson for SEIU 1199NE, Butler Hospital leadership and 800 staff members have been negotiating on a “fair union contract that provides competitive rates to recruit and retain urgently needed staff as well as paid training, increased job safety measures and improved benefits.”

This comes after a 41% increase in patient assaults on staff from 2022 to 2024, as well as 107 assaults from January 2025 to March 2025, according to SEIU 1199NE. The union also claimed that in the first three months of 2025, there was a 79% increase in overall workplace injuries. 

SEIU 1199NE added that the starting wage for mental health workers at the hospital is $18.27, and that wages “do not adequately compensate staff for the demands of the job.” 

Butler Hospital President and Chief Operating Officer Mary Marran shared a statement on the informational picket Monday morning, responding to the claims of violence at the hospital. In the response, she said, “at Butler Hospital, safety is non-negotiable. Like all Care New England hospitals, we have comprehensive protocols in place to protect staff and patients from workplace violence.”

Marran released the full statement:

“I write to inform you that SEIU 1199NE has chosen to hold an informational picket on Monday, April 21, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, despite Butler Hospital’s ongoing commitment to open and constructive negotiations.

From the start, Butler’s leadership has been fully engaged in the bargaining process. We recognize the importance of wages, benefits, and workplace safety, and we have worked diligently and in good faith to address these issues. Our goal remains a fair and equitable agreement that supports our employees while upholding the exceptional care our patients deserve.

We believe collaboration—not division—is the path forward. We urge SEIU 1199NE to join us in pursuing meaningful dialogue that benefits both our team and the people we serve.

At Butler Hospital, safety is non-negotiable. Like all Care New England hospitals, we have comprehensive protocols in place to protect staff and patients from workplace violence. Our nurses, clinical teams, and security personnel are trained in de-escalation techniques, and high-risk behavioral health areas receive enhanced support and staffing. We do not tolerate violence in any form. Our staff are committed professionals who work tirelessly under challenging circumstances, and we will continue to advocate for their safety and well-being.

Butler Hospital remains unwavering in our mission to maintain a safe, respectful, and rewarding environment for our employees and the communities we serve. We look forward to ongoing discussions focused on arriving at a fair and equitable agreement.”