PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — SEIU 1199 New England announced Wednesday that union workers at Women and Infants Hospital voted to strike on Dec. 12. SEIU, which represents over 2,000 staff including registered nurses, clerical, environmental service, dietary and technical workers at the hospital, said 90% of the workforce of caregivers voted for the strike. According to SEIU the hospital violated the National Labor Relations Act for: Refusing to bargain changes in the term and conditions of union worker’s employment Refusing to give information related to formulating bargaining proposals Refusing to give information needed to respond to the hospital’s proposals “Intimidating, threatening, and in the most extreme cases – engaging in “impermissive physical acts” against members in the union for testifying against the hospital in a federal unfair labor practice trial Additionally, SEIU said staff are frustrated with the refusal to consider bargaining proposals regarding the staffing storage, which would include raising wages, preserving healthcare benefits, and offering all policies in multiple languages. On Nov. 12, over 1,200 frontline staff held a picket discussing unfair labor practices, which SEIU said was the largest in local union history. Women and Infants Hospital responded to the decision to strike and said it is “prepared to provide exceptional care for patients in the event that 1199SEIU chooses to strike,” and will remain open. Women and Infants said over the last two months, it has negotiated in “good faith” and offered a “generous proposal,” which includes a $19 million investment over the next three years in employees’ wages and pension.  The proposal provided by the hospital includes a pension increase contribution to 10.7% of an employee’s salary, minimum 5.5% wage increase over three years for union members, and a “robust health plan options at low or no costs to employees.” However, SEIU said that proposals offered by management would drive up healthcare costs, limit union activity, and offer jobs to non-union workers. The hospital said it will remain open during the strike, and has contracted with a national firm to provide care during a work stoppage. The hospital also said the Rhode Island Department of Health will review the plans to ensure safety. Women and Infants said it will continue negotiating to reach an agreement to prevent a strike, which it said would harm staff financially and force at least $9 million to be spent to continue operations. The staff’s current contract expires Nov. 30.   Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island