FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women & Infants caregivers demand Care New England address serious concerns around sanitation, staffing, and training for Epic, new health record system

21 November 2025

Providence: Yesterday, Women & Infants caregivers hit the picket line in force to demand Care New England reinvest its record earnings in patient safety, staff training and critical facility upkeep. In November, 2024, 90% of the over 2,000 workers voted for an unfair labor practice strike and subsequently ratified a strong contract that included 13% wage increases, protections to pension and healthcare benefits and a landmark expansion of the union training program.

Less than a year ago we settled a contract that gave us hope that change was possible. Since then, management has refused to uphold our agreement or address our serious concerns about patient care and safety. Not so long ago we were called heroes during the pandemic. Now, morale is at an all-time low and we feel disposable despite our many years of service. As a maternal hospital, it is especially troubling that management refuses to provide mothers on staff the necessary time to pump their breast milk which could lead to infection and reduced supply. All we are asking for is to be treated with the respect our expertise and commitment deserves.

- Nancy Chandley-Adams, a Registered Nurse of nearly 40 years and Lactation Consultant

Frontline caregivers are the backbone of Women & Infants Hospital, providing highly specialized care to thousands of mothers and babies each year, facilitating approximately 80% of Rhode Island women's births. But for years, union workers have reported chronic short staffing, a lack of respect and a continual violation of their contractual rights, including denying vacation requests before even posting the vacancies, leading to an unprecedented number of arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges. As a result, in a recent union survey, over 60% of respondents report morale is extremely or very low and a staggering 91% say they feel management is not doing enough to ensure patients receive quality care.

60% of respondents report morale is extremely or very low

91% say they feel management is not doing enough to ensure patients receive quality care

Despite Women & Infants reporting $40 million in profit in 2024, caregivers continue to raise major concerns about staffing in the Labor and Delivery, Operating Room and Environmental Services Departments as well as widespread facility issues involving sanitation, water temperature issues, broken equipment and sewage leaks.

Patient care starts with clean, sanitary rooms, but as environmental service workers we’re always short-staffed and running ourselves ragged. We do our best, but we can’t be in two places at once and often can’t even take a break. Because of that, things get missed - we can’t dust or clean the floors properly, and I believe there is mold on some showers. Better staffing and training would mean safer care for our patients.

- Rachel Murphy, EVS Aide

What’s more, workers described how a hospital-wide “trial by fire” roll-out of Epic, the hospital’s new $60 million electronic health record system is increasing documentation time, patient delays and the risk of medical errors. 68% of recent survey union respondents said they felt they had extremely or very low training support for the Epic rollout.

68% say they felt they had extremely or very low training support for the Epic rollout.

Epic was supposed to streamline our work but it has had the exact opposite effect. We received only minimal training that is not specific to our units and tasks now literally take me 15 times longer to complete. As a result, we are constantly worried about making mistakes that could affect care and we are pulled away from our patients, causing even more delays. It is scary and frustrating that I cannot do my job in a timely manner on a system I was not prepared for.

- Cassie White, Registered Nurse in the Mother Baby Unit

In light of the many issues impacting Women & Infants patients and staff, caregivers will continue sounding the alarm until care and safety concerns are addressed. “It is time for Care New England to return to its mission of patient-centered care,” continued Nancy Chandley-Adams, Registered Nurse.

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District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.