Butler workers strike, show up in full force

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Today dozens of people participated in a solidarity rally with striking Butler Hospital workers on Blackstone Boulevard in Providence this afternoon.

At 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, hundreds of nurses and hospital workers began picketing outside Butler Hospital, marking the start of a labor strike.

The strike follows months of failed negotiations between SEIU 1199NE, the union representing over 700 hospital workers, and Care New England, the health system that operates Butler Hospital.

Already, the strike is putting a strain on Care New England’s operations, with the system spending millions on temporary staff to fill the gaps.

The core issues driving the strike include low wages and escalating concerns about workplace safety.

Between 2023 and 2024, patient assaults on staff increased by 16%, from 205 to 237 incidents, as documented in official logs.