A judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has ruled that Providence-based Women & Infants Hospital cannot prevent New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, SEIU from asking its members to protest layoffs by declining extra shifts and refusing overtime.
A hospital spokeswoman said Women & Infants is disappointed in the outcome.
"We respect the union's right to advocate on behalf of its members, however, it is imperative that we work together," she said in a statement. "We are asking our staff to continue to pick up shifts as needed and to do the necessary work to ensure a safe environment for our patients, their families and each other."
Last month,Women & Infants announced its plans to lay off 41 employeesandto reduce the hours of six additional employees. Due to hard work on the part of the hospital and the union, the hospital was able to reduce the number of layoffs to 33, including 15 non-unionand18 union staff members, according to a news release.
SEIU 1199 objected to the layoffs and tried to delay and even prevent the process from moving forward by suing the hospital, according to a news release. But in February, the federal court ruled in favor of the hospital, allowing Women & Infants to proceed with the planned workforce reduction.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, the union sent a notice to picket and also engage in other activities such as discouraging its members from picking up voluntary overtime and additional shifts or participating in committee work, according to a news release. A Women & Infants spokeswoman said this concerned hospital administrators particularly in the areas of patient care.
More than 90 percent of Women & Infants patient care hours are covered by regularly scheduled staff. However, the remaining eight to 10 percent of hours required for patient care are filled using voluntary overtime, which is needed because of leave of absence, vacation and illness, according to a news release.
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