Healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence are set to begin a three-day strike July 23 unless a last-minute deal is reached.
The workers, which include nurses, are represented by United Nurses and Allied Professionals Local 5098. They are slated to walk of the job over issues such as wages and benefits.
"It's something that we have to do. We don't want to do it. [Providence-based] Lifespan, [the parent company], created this nightmare and they have the means to put it to a halt," Sherry Tomasso, RN, told ABC6.
The strike is slated to begin at 3 p.m. ET. To prepare for the walkout, Lifespan paid $10 million to bring in temporary workers, and that money came out of the wage offer in its final proposal rejected by workers July 19.
In other strike preparations, Lifespan said Rhode Island Hospital's emergency department has been on diversion since early July 22, and the state advised EMS providers to bring stroke patients to the closest primary stroke center at other hospitals before and during the strike. Additionally, hospital officials have rescheduled elective services and all nonurgent diagnostic testing during the work stoppage.
"Rhode Island Hospital has not wavered in our mission to deliver world-class, compassionate care. While we greatly value the expertise of our 2,400 nurses and technical staff and would prefer that our patients' care remain in their hands, we must continue with our core mission to deliver quality care during this difficult time," hospital officials said.
Meanwhile, both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table at 8 a.m. ET July 23, per the federal mediator's order.
Editor's note: As of about 2 p.m. CST, the strike had commenced.