Union says Women and Infants announces layoffs ahead of informational picket

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — District 1199 SEIU New England, the union representing employees at Women and Infants Hospital, said the hospital had announced payoffs ahead of an informational picket Wednesday.

The picket was held for what the union said was anti-union behavior and unlawful actions by Care New England, the owners of the hospital.

The union also said that the hospital announced eight layoffs of employees who work in Medical Records and Coding in the Oncology Department.

“It’s no coincidence that every time we demand accountability from hospital leadership, Care New England responds with layoff announcements,” C-Section Recovery Room RN Justine Iadaluca. “It is retaliation plain and simple. But by eliminating critical positions in the hospital including clerical, medical records, coding and the entire pre-admissions testing department, management is not just punishing workers, they are putting patient care at risk. This is a new low for Care New England.”

Care New England responded by saying that the hospital had eliminated seven positions in the previous week, that the employees would have the opportunity to seek “comparable positions” in the hospital, and that only one union employee accepted the layoff.

CNE had previously filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union, saying that the union was taking part in “disruptive, intimidating, and bullying behavior.”

The hospital’s full statement can be found below:

Women and Infants has a workforce of more than 2,000 non-medical employees. The hospital eliminated seven positions earlier this week. These layoffs don’t take effect until October, when the employees will have the option to seek other comparable positions at the Hospital. To date, only a single union employee has taken a layoff under the most recent negotiated contract. SEIU’s charged rhetoric and tactics of disruption are putting unnecessary strain on the state’s health care system. Their paid, professional organizers and lobbyists are putting politics ahead of patients.