Women & Infants frontline staff reach tentative contract agreement, averting Unfair Labor Practice Strike
Additional details will be available upon ratification
From an SEIU 1199NE press release:
Frontline caregivers at Women & Infants Hospital, who provide specialized care and services to Rhode Island mothers and babies, have reached a tentative contract agreement with their employer very early Wednesday morning, thus averting plans for an unfair labor practice strike beginning December 12.
“After bargaining for nearly 17 hours, we are pleased that our Women & Infants union bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement with management that includes industry-leading wage increases and improvements to benefits that will help recruit and retain qualified staff across all departments and units. It has not been an easy road, but we are hopeful this allows us a new opportunity for respect and communication between union workers and management to the benefit of our patients,” said Nancy Chandley Adams, Registered Nurse in the Lactation Unit and member of the bargaining committee.
Women & Infants’ over 2,000 frontline staff, members of SEIU 1199 New England, began contract negotiations in early October. After over 1,200 union members held an unfair labor practice informational picket on November 12, 2024, and, more recently, a strike vote, union staff reached a tentative agreement with management after their contract expired on November 30.
Women & Infants Hospital is Rhode Island’s premier center for women’s and maternal healthcare, and approximately 80 percent of Rhode Island women choose to give birth there. Frontline staff have been fighting for respect, safe staffing, and a living wage, and 68% of frontline staff indicated they feel stressed about not being able to make ends meet in a recent union survey.
Women & Infants Hospital staff aim to hold a ratification vote later this week when additional contract details and worker statements will be made available.
Previous coverage:
November 13: Healthcare workers at Women & Infants picket to call attention to difficult negotiations
November 27: Women & Infants Hospital workforce votes to authorize Unfair Labor Practice Strike on December 12
District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the country.