Rhode Island's Biggest Labor Disputes

Rhode Island's Biggest Labor Disputes

Labor Day weekend in Rhode Island might mark the end of summer, the start of the school year, and for many, a Monday holiday.  

From firefighters to teachers, to social workers, hotel employees and nurses, however, Rhode Island has no shortage of current efforts by organized labor to address contracts, working conditions, and wages. 

While not all, here are some of the biggest labor disputes currently in Rhode Island as Labor Day weekend begins. 

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Providence Issues

In May, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that as part of addressing the city's structural deficit, he was going to reorganize the Providence Fire Department from four platoons to three, which he said could save as much as $5 million annually -- and the firefighters are opposing.  

The firefighters union issued an injunction with the city to stop the platoon change, and continues to contest the change put forth by Elorza.

"Next week we have status conference on the 8th, at which point we'll inform the court we can't reach agreement [with the city], and we want the court to decide -- we expect three to ten days for a decision," said Local 799 President Paul Doughty.  "One of the questions the Mayor has avoided so far is the negative scenario - what happens if they lose this folly -- so far, it hasn't been quantified.  I hope the auditor has done some models. It's our estimation that the best case scenario is $2 million in savings and worst case, a $12 million loss."

As the Providence firefighters toe the line with the city, the Providence Teachers Union contract hangs in the balance.

"The PTU and the city negotiated a contract that was signed by both parties after ratification from the membership.  The expectation was for the contract to go to the finance committee of the city Council, have two reads, public comment and be passed by the city council," said PTU President Maribeth Calabro. "The contract has stalled in the City Council as some city councilors are concerned with the parity language as it pertains to the firefighters platoon shift changes.  I expect the council to take up our contract and bring it through the required processes to a vote this month."

"In terms of not having it approved by this point I am disappointed as are my members," continued Calabro. "But I am extremely proud of my membership in taking the professional high road by coming to work well before school opened to prepare their classrooms to be places  of engagement and learning.  This is the second year we have returned to work without a contract and as tiresome as that may be Providence Teachers put children first."

United Nurses and Allied Professionals

Members of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP), Local 5098, at Rhode Island Hospital have been locked in a months-long dispute with Lifespan over a new contract, and held a candlelight vigil and march on Thursday August 27 to call attention to what they say is unsafe staffing levels and other problems that continue to remain an issue in negotiations. UNAP members have been working without a contract since June 30.

In July, RI Hospital responded to UNAP's claims, saying that UNAP’s leadership "continues to distort our commitment to provide safe, quality nursing care. The fact is that two independent regulatory agencies – the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services – recently visited our hospital and reviewed the hospital and its staffing in particular. Neither the Joint Commission nor CMS noted any deficiency of any kind in the hospital’s staffing. Also, it should be noted that unlike other hospitals, Rhode Island Hospital staffs to 100 percent of the anticipated census."

"So we had the vigil a week ago yesterday, our first bargaining session since the vigil was yesterday," said Helene Macedo, RN and President of the Local 5098, on Friday. "That was the first session the mediator came in on.  We have another session on Wednesday. We always hope we can reach a negotiated settlement first, before having to take action."

Unite Here

On Thursday, hotel workers from the Procaccianti Group-owned Renaissance and Hilton hotels released a report documenting what they said shows that workers there suffer higher rates of injury and pain than hotel workers both nationally and locally. The report was released during a vigil at City Hall attended by more than 100 hotel workers and their allies.

According to data provided by the hotels, the incidence rate for work-related injury and illness was 69% higher at the Hilton and 85% higher at the Renaissance Hotel than the national average rate for hotel workers in 2013.

Organizer Guy Rossman with UNITE HERE said the purpose of the rally was to highlight the differences in working conditions - compared with other unionized hotels.  "The purpose of the rally was to ask management to end their pain -- workers are demanding fair process about unions.  The see the difference with [union] workers at the Omni and Biltmore."

A representative for the Procaccianti group did not respond to request for comment on Friday. 

SEIU

Dozens of workers and allies of SEIU held an informational picketing at the Groden Center School on Providence's East Side on Thursday to call attention to what they said is "the need for living wages and safer staffing levels at the non-profit organization, which operates two schools for children with autism and developmental disabilities."

"What we do here is valid work.  We understand it's not a job you take to get rich -- but you need to make enough to pay back the college loans," said Cory Lafleur on Friday. "And we've been kept just above the poverty line.  We don't want to deconstruct the Groden Center, what we want is strength with transparency and teamwork, but it's been a long process.  They're masters at playing the long game."

Groden Center spokesperson Toni Lautieri said that while they didn't issue a response to this week's picket, they would be "happy to talk with anyone in the media."

"We've been really working hard on negotiating in good faith since October 2014, and the negotiations are progressing and we're optimistic for reaching an agreement in the near future. We're trying to iron out the concerns of our employees."

Other Labor Issues

The beleaguered Central Coventry Fire District continues to have dire financial concerns, as Fire District Board Chairman Frank Palin told town officials this week that the district wouldn't be able to make payroll for its firefighters on September 4.

In Newport, teacher contract talks have come to a halt, following a picket at Rogers High after the rejection of contract offer -- and no confidence vote in the Newport Superintendent.