Union members overwhelmingly approve new 4-year contract with Women & Infants Hospital

WOMEN & INFANTS Hospital's nurses and health care workers, by a recent vote of 958-6, ratified a new, four-year collective bargaining agreement with the hospital. / COURTESY WOMEN & INFANTS
WOMEN & INFANTS Hospital's nurses and health care workers, by a recent vote of 958-6, ratified a new, four-year collective bargaining agreement with the hospital. / COURTESY WOMEN & INFANTS

PROVIDENCE – By a vote of 958-6, Women & Infants Hospital’s nurses and health care workers ratified a new, four-year collective bargaining agreement with the hospital, the employee union reported. SEIU District 1199 NE’s 45-person rank-and-file bargaining committee recommended ratification because the agreement addresses safe staffing, good jobs and quality care, according to the union.

In anticipation of the previous contract’s Dec. 1 expiration, the bargaining committee had been negotiating with Women & Infants Hospital, a Care New England facility, since September. Earlier this month, the SEIU District 1199 NE’s members employed by Women & Infants, a Lifespan facility, voted to authorize a strike notice, if necessary. However, the union and the hospital reached a tentative agreement on Dec. 16.

The union reported that the new agreement includes an investment in job training so that employees can access more readily internal promotions and a management commitment to hire more front-line staff. Further, the new agreement has strong job security provisions, as any union member employed for more than four years at the hospital cannot be laid off. Every October during the contract term, 2-percent pay increases on all wage scales and pay rates will occur. Finally, the union noted that it halted management’s proposed reduction to the union’s pension plan.

Through a hospital spokesperson, Women & Infants Hospital declined to respond to Providence Business News’ request for comment about the new agreement.

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“We made some significant advances in our wages, benefits and working conditions to help ensure a better future for both staff and patients at Women & Infants Hospital,” Patrick J. Quinn, executive vice president for SEIU District 1199 NE, said in the statement.

With more than 1,700 members at Women & Infants and more than 500 members at Butler Hospital, SEIU District 1199 NE is the largest union in the CNE system.

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