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5/13/2025
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Members of General Assembly call on Butler Hospital to resolve contract talks before planned strike
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STATE HOUSE — A group of 44 legislators called on management at Butler Hospital to negotiate a new contract with workers before a possible strike that has been authorized to start as soon as Thursday.
“As members of the Rhode Island General Assembly representing communities served by Butler Hospital, we write to express our deep appreciation for the care your staff provides every day. At the same time, we share the concern of SEIU 1199NE members that without meaningful progress in contract talks, they may feel compelled to consider strike action as soon as next week—a disruption that would impact patient care, overwhelm our emergency rooms, and place additional strain on state resources,” they said in their letter delivered last week to Mary E. Marran, president and CEO of Butler Hospital.
Over 90 percent of SEIU 1199NE workers at Butler voted to authorize a strike that could start as soon as Thursday if negotiations do not progress quickly.
“What compounds this urgency is that the overwhelming majority of Butler workers earn less than $20/hour—some as low as $15.30—and under the hospital’s current proposal most would still fall below that mark even after four years. This reality is both shameful and unacceptable. Butler’s 14% employee vacancy rate speaks volumes: caregivers are leaving because they simply cannot make ends meet under the current terms. That staffing shortage has also led to a spike in serious workplace violence against staff—and yet Butler has no comprehensive plan in place to address it,” the legislators continued.
The legislators emphasized five key points that they believe should be included in management’s proposals to workers: livable wages, preserving defined-benefit pensions for new hires, preserving two-thirds employer funding to Heath Savings Accounts, a two-year contract term and establishing a joint workplace violence committee between management and workers.
“We believe these steps will demonstrate Butler’s commitment to its employees and community, preserve uninterrupted patient services, and reinforce morale among the dedicated professionals who power your hospital. We stand ready to support you in any way we can and would appreciate confirmation today that your team will present these proposals now. Thank you for your leadership and for working with us to secure a fair and timely resolution,” they concluded.
The letter was signed by Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston), Sens. Jacob E. Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence), Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), Tiara T. Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence), Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence), Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket), Brian J. Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland), Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield), Todd M. Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), Peter A. Appollonio Jr. (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) and Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and Reps. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Nathan W. Biah Sr. (D-Dist. 3, Providence), Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence), David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence), Enrique George Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence), Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence), Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston), David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), Marie Hopkins (R-Dist. 21, Warwick), Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett), Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown), Megan Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton), Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston), Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence), Cherie L. Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket), Jennifer A. Stewart (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), Leonela Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), Jenni A. Furtado (D-Dist. 64, East Providence, Pawtucket), Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown) and Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport).
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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