Care New England’s Butler Hospital, a private nonprofit psychiatric and substance abuse hospital in Providence, R.I., said Aug. 7 it will close its addiction treatment unit, citing the indefinite strike by members of SEIU 1199NE.
The 29-bed unit closure follows other unit closures last month.
Since the strike began more than 12 weeks ago, the hospital has closed three units, the hospital said in a news release shared with Becker’s. With the latest closure, Butler will be operating at half of its 197-bed capacity. The hospital noted that emergency departments statewide remain available for patients with substance use disorders seeking detox.
The hospital has pointed to the strike when announcing closures.
“SEIU 1199NE’s political executives are pursuing a political agenda on the backs of the most vulnerable patients in the state. Because of their unrelenting labor strike, we have had to close another 29 beds and shutter our addiction unit, reducing capacity for people struggling the most,” Mary Marran, president and COO of Butler, said in the release.
Becker’s has reached out to the union and will update this story if comment is received.
More than 700 staff members at the hospital, including registered nurses, mental health workers, clerical, environmental service and dietary staff, began an open-ended strike May 15. The union and management began negotiating a new labor contract in March and have been at odds over issues such as pay and workplace safety.
Last month, 98% of striking workers voted to reject management’s “last, best and final offer,” according to the union’s Facebook page.
Union representatives said in an Aug. 5 news release that workers cited the offer fails to adequately provide family-sustaining wages, affordable healthcare and safer working conditions.
“Since this strike began, we’ve been fighting not just for a fair contract, but for the kind of healthcare system that treats both caregivers and patients with dignity and respect,” Hannah Roosa, RN, said in the release.
