RI Hospital UNAP members voted overwhelmingly today by 876 to 14 to reject a Lifespan proposal to reduce wages and benefits.  The proposed givebacks have already been imposed on non-union employees throughout the Lifespan system. 

At the five membership meetings held throughout the day, UNAP members repeatedly voiced their disapproval of the Lifespan proposals.  Nurses, respiratory therapists, diagnostic imaging techs and others expressed skepticism about the need for permanent cuts in wages and benefits, noting the fact that Lifespan hospitals are the wealthiest and most profitable in Rhode Island.  Union members also expressed anger about CEO salary increases and recent bonuses paid to Lifespan executives.

Union President, Linda McDonald, RN noted during the meeting that “our members contribute to RI Hospital every day – working very hard to take care of very sick patients.  In addition, we have done our part in the past by making some concessions during our contract negotiations.”  But, she added, “a contract is a contract, and both sides must live with its terms.” 

On Wednesday, March 18, Lifespan announced wage & benefit “takeaways” for all non-union employees, and asked the UNAP to agree to similar givebacks, including eliminating a scheduled 4% increase on July 1.  The RI Hospital UNAP Executive Board has unanimously recommended that members reject the proposal because Lifespan is financially healthy.  Click here to read more.

The UNAP has published its premier edition of The eFlame, an electronic version of the UNAP newsletter.  The eFlame is distributed to over 5,000 members and non-members, and contains articles and links to important developments in labor, health care, and each UNAP local. 

To read The eFlame, click here.  To subscribe to The eFlame, click here.

Imagine if a hospital purchase or merger enabled a private hospital company to acquire ownership of a majority of all the hospital beds in Rhode Island.  This company would have extraordinary influence on the cost, quality and access to health care services; the economy of Rhode Island; the health care labor market; and the overall health of Rhode Islanders.

To protect the public's interest in the event of such a merger, State Senator Mary Ellen Goodwin and State Representative Peter Wasylyk have introduced legislation entitled the "Hospital Merger Accountability Act", which would provide greater transparency, accountability and oversight of any merged hospital system that acquires ownership of more than 50% of all hospital beds in Rhode Island.  Click here to read S-0780 (Goodwin) and H-5702 (Wasylyk).