Union nurses plan to strike

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – Local union nurses plan on walking out Monday afternoon as part of a strike

The United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP) have denied a final contract offer from Lifespan saying they "will not be bullied, threatened or disrespected by an out-of-touch management team."

During the strike Lifespan is bringing in nurses from out of state to cover their shifts at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, spending $10 million on the temporary staff.

The UNAP members won’t return to work until 3 P.M. July 27. They originally planned to go back to work on Thursday, but Lifespan’s deal with that staffing company has locked them out for an additional day.

In a statement, Rhode Island Hospital said they are "very disappointed" it’s come to this.

In response to the strike other hospitals in the area are preparing to see additional patients next week. Care New England, the state’s second largest healthcare system, says it has been communicating with Lifespan to ensure the quality and continuity of patient care.

The union also sent a statement saying, "The hospital has a fiscal responsibility to its patients and all of its employees to watch out bottom line. and that means that we pay people for the hard work that they do but it also means we have to make sure we have margins that are sustainable."

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