Women & Infants workers to vote whether or not to go on strike
by: Melanie DaSilva, Kristin Burnell
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Contract negotiations continue between healthcare workers at Women & Infants Hospital and their employer Care New England.
On Monday, caregivers will vote on whether or not to go on strike.
This comes after they held an informational picket two weeks ago, where a couple of hundred frontline staff members spoke out against chronic staffing shortages, working conditions, and a “failure by management to bargain in good faith.”
The union representing the workers says it has been trying to work out the details of a new contract since the beginning of October.
“During COVID, we gave up a raise and holiday time to help the hospital along, and we are finding out now that we are not getting that respect back,” said Nancy Chandley-Adams, a nurse.
“The proposal we have from the hospital is a 1% raise,” she continued. “What we would pay for health care and with that raise would mean we are taking home less money.”
A spokesperson with Care New England told 12 News in a statement that “a strike does not benefit anyone. Women & Infants Hospital remains focused on reaching a fair contract at the negotiating table. Should the union decide to strike, Women & Infants is fully prepared to continue to deliver exceptional care.”
Care New England has previously denied that the hospital took part in unfair labor practices. They say they are committed to continuing negotiations to resolve any issues.