PROVIDENCE – A last-minute agreement between Rhode Island Hospital and the United Nurses and Allied Professionals has averted a potential costly strike.
On July 1, by a vote of 944-260, union members ratified a new, four-year contract which covers more than 2,200 RNs and health professionals. The previous contract ended on June 30.
According to Helen Macedo, president of the union, the contract provisions included:
One of the new contract provisions establishes a preferred health care network for Lifespan employees, encouraging them to used Lifespan facilities, whenever possible. The network is expected to be a precursor to a Lifespan “health plan” that may be offered to other Rhode Island employers in the future, according to the union. However, Lou Sperling vice president of human resources at Rhode Island Hospital, said that there were no plans for the Lifespan “health plan” to be offered to other employers. Lifespan is self-insured, according to Gail Leach Carvelli, Lifespan’s media relations manager.
The contract provision is similar to the one in a recent collective bargaining agreement between Steward Health Care and Landmark Medical Center employees – represented by UNAP – creating financial incentives for the use of Steward health care facilities.
“The bad economy, combined with an uncertain future, led us to place a priority on securing our members’ jobs, wages, and health care costs,” said Macedo. “We look forward to continuing our ongoing efforts to make Rhode Island Hospital the very best it can be – for our staff and our patients.”
According to WRNI, during the negotiations, Rhode Island Hospital was working with Huffmaster, a national company specializing in staffing crisis management; the firm had posted an employment ad on its web site, “RNs needed for a very large acute care facility in Providence.”
Rhode Island Hospital President and CEO Dr. Timothy J. Babineau, said he was grateful to reach an agreement that demonstrated the respect and value the hospital places on its employees. “We believe this new contract, which goes into effect immediately, meets our mutual goals of preserving jobs, maintaining a financially viable hospital, sustaining our planned growth and allowing our caregivers to provide the best possible care to our patients,” Babineau said in statement issued on July 1.
