UNAP Local 5098 members vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike at Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s Hospital
“Management’s last proposal was insulting to us in many ways, and does nothing to improve employee morale or patient care."
From a press release:
The United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP) Local 5098, representing the nurses and healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital / Hasbro Children’s Hospital, voted to authorize a strike on Tuesday. The union is calling on Brown University Health to return to the table and offer a proposal that treats nurses, healthcare professionals, and patients with the respect and dignity they deserve.
“The results of today’s strike authorization vote show overwhelmingly that Rhode Island Hospital’s and Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s nurses and health professionals will not be disrespected, devalued, and under-appreciated,” stated Frank Sims, President of UNAP Local 5098. “The message is loud and clear – Brown University President John Fernandez, Rhode Island Hospital President Sarah Frost, and Brown University President Christina Paxson will not weaken our union, and they will not tear us apart. Their current contract proposal is unacceptable to the nurses and healthcare workers who dedicate their lives to providing high-quality patient care. And it’s unacceptable to the patients who rely on the care we provide.
“Management’s last proposal was insulting to us in many ways, and does nothing to improve employee morale or patient care,” continued Sims. “We are all tired of seeing our fellow nurses and health professionals leave for jobs in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where they are valued and respected. They must do better for the workers and the patients. This is why we are preparing to take the next steps toward a strike. The ball is in Brown University Health’s court. We are willing to listen, but only if they come back with a serious proposal that shows they truly value the work we do every day within the walls of this hospital.”
The UNAP and Brown University Health have been negotiating contracts for months, involving nurses and healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. According to UNAP, Brown University Health has failed to provide sufficient safety protections for nurses and healthcare workers, and has not offered a contract that provides an affordable health insurance plan or family-sustaining wages. Brown University Health’s current proposal would shift roughly $1 million onto the backs of nurses and healthcare workers through increased health insurance costs. This is a relatively small amount of money for Brown University Health, notes UNAP, but a substantial sum for these healthcare workers. This cost shift exceeds $1,000 per member with insurance. With Rhode Island facing a significant nursing shortage, Brown University Health’s proposals are expected to impact recruitment and retention negatively, further exacerbating staffing issues at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, which could potentially compromise patient care.