Butler Hospital reaches tentative deal after 3-month strike

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — After more than three months on the picket line, union workers at Butler Hospital have reached a tentative contract agreement with management.

The breakthrough deal comes after hundreds of employees represented by SEIU 1199NE walked out, citing unfair labor practices, low pay, and a lack of protections against workplace violence.

Both the hospital and the union’s bargaining committee confirmed the agreement in a joint statement, but details remain under wraps until members vote to ratify the contract.

For now, leadership at Butler says more information will be released in the coming days.

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.

Butler Hospital reaches tentative deal.