Woonsocket Radio News Room

United Nurses & Allied Professionals Rhode Island Hospital local issues 10 day informational picket notice; launches campaign calling on Brown University Health to get their priorities straight

 

Providence, RI - UNAP Local 5098, representing the nurses and healthcare professionals at Rhode Island Hospital, has issued a 10 day informational picket notice to Brown University Health and Rhode Island Hospital management. The union is planning the informational picket at Rhode Island Hospital on March 28, 2025 from 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Local 5098 and Rhode Island Hospital management have been bargaining for a new contract since early 2025, but Brown University Health is potentially compromising patient care by failing to offer a contract that provides safe staffing levels, a safe work environment, affordable healthcare, or family-sustaining wages for nurses and healthcare workers.

 

“It is a slap in the face to patients, nurses, and other healthcare workers when we see Brown University Health spending freely on glitzy Super Bowl ads, multi-million dollar executive salaries, and purchasing Massachusetts hospitals – all while refusing to treat patients, nurses and frontline healthcare professionals with the respect and dignity they deserve,” stated Frank Sims, RN, President of UNAP Local 5098. “We are not asking for a lot. We simply want safe working conditions, staffing levels that ensure patient and worker safety, family-sustaining wages, and health insurance that doesn’t put our own health at risk.”

 

Sims continued, “We want to feel safe at work, and we want patients to receive top quality healthcare. By failing to agree to staffing levels, this care could potentially be put in jeopardy. Management has insulted us by refusing to offer a health insurance plan that allows us to get affordable care outside of the Brown University Health system. In some cases that means waiting almost two years for a doctor’s appointment. It means the nurses and healthcare workers who provide the care can’t get timely, affordable, quality care for ourselves. It’s time for Brown University Health management to get their priorities straight – less money spent on salaries and TV ads and more money put towards ensuring quality healthcare.” 

 

In addition to the informational picket, UNAP Local 5098 has launched a public campaign informing Rhode Islanders about this issue and calling on them to support Rhode Island Hospital’s nurses and healthcare professionals. The campaign will consist of television and radio ads, print ads, direct mail, digital ads, and social media ads. You can learn more at www.BrownHealthPriorities.com 

 

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