Following months of negotiations, nurses and technicians at Providence-based Rhode Island Hospital have voted down a contract offer from the hospital's operator, Lifespan, according to a WPRO News report.
The workers, who are members of United Nurses and Allied Professionals Local 5098, rejected the contract Tuesday night. The contract included wage increases in every year of the three-year contract and improvements to dental insurance, among other things.
It is unclear why the workers rejected the contract. However, in a statement, Helene Macedo, president of Local 5098, said the union's focus now is "to continue fighting for a fair and reasonable agreement that respects the sacrifice and commitment that front-line caregivers bring to their jobs every day," according to the report.
A spokeswoman for Lifespan and Rhode Island Hospital expressed disappointment in the fact that the union rejected the offer, despite the fact that it was endorsed by their negotiating committee and the union's leadership, according to the report.
"We strongly believe the three-year contract proposal included an extremely fair wage and benefits package," wrote Lifespan spokeswoman, Beth Bailey, in an email statement, according to WPRO News. "It is expected that the federal mediator who assisted the parties in reaching the current tentative agreement will now bring the parties together to review next steps."