PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Women & Infants has reached a tentative agreement on a new, three-year contract with union members. As part of the agreement, SEIU1199 has withdrawn its notice to the hospital that it intended to strike on December 12, according to a release. The release stated that the final tentative agreement saves “the union’s pension and provides significant contributions to employees’ retirement.” “It provides salary increases that are important for employees and their families and makes Women & Infants even more competitive to retain and recruit the best talent,” the release stated. “We are very pleased that we have reached an agreement on a contract that benefits both our staff and Women & Infants Hospital,” said Shannon R. Sullivan, president of Women & Infants. “We are ready to move forward with all our colleagues to focus on what is most important: providing outstanding care,” she said. 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 had voted for the strike on Dec. 12. 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. Categories: News