Butler Hospital Hiring Temporary Workers With Strike On The Horizon

PROVIDENCE, RI — Butler Hospital plans to staff itself with temporary workers, as hundreds of frontline employees are expected to go on strike later this month, according to the New England Health Care Employees Union (SEIU 1199NE).

Union Executive Vice President Jesse Martin said Butler Hospital will spend $1.8 million on temporary labor ahead of the strike, slated to begin at 6 a.m. Thursday. The union represents more than 800 frontline workers at the psychiatric hospital and entered contract negotiations with Care New England, Butler Hospital's parent company, two months ago.

"Care New England has repeatedly discussed its financial success; however, that success is because of the hard work and sacrifice of its dedicated employees," Martin said. "Butler Hospital (CNE) has failed to make proposals to lift its workforce out of poverty, address chronic workplace violence or protect their retirement and health insurance benefits."

Prior to voting to strike, union officials had urged hospital management to address "critical safety and economic concerns" workers argued were contributing to staff shortages.

Care New England spokesperson Raina Smith told WPRI 12 the hospital worked towards a fair agreement in good faith.

According to Smith, the latest offer included wage increases, continued pension contributions for existing employees, affordable health insurance, and the creation of a workplace violence taskforce with both union members and management represented.

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