New owners propose a mere 1.5% cent raise, slashed holidays and increased healthcare costs
Pawtucket - Emerging from state receivership, frontline workers of Pawtucket Falls will hold an informational picket to draw attention to the unreasonable concessions demanded by its new owners. They will be joined by elected officials including Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, Congressman Seth Magaziner, Representative Cherie Cruz, Representative Jennifer Stewart and Senator Lori Urso.
Pawtucket Falls workers and residents have experienced major upheaval throughout the past few years from a series of different for-profit owners and managers. Both frontline staff and state inspectors reported a series of troubling care issues including severe short staffing, resident injuries, lack of ample food and missed medication, prompting the state to put the facility into receivership in May, 2023.
Now, under new owners, Pawtucket Falls members of SEIU 1199NE have been trying unsuccessfully to bargain a new contract for the last two months. Despite Pawtucket Falls receiving Medicaid reimbursement rates increases for the last five years (and a large increase for Medicaid rebasing rates in October, 2024), management is proposing only a 1.5% cent raise over two years while increasing healthcare costs and cutting half of workers’ holidays. Over two years of state receivership, workers received no wage increases.
Pawtucket Falls workers and residents have experienced major upheaval throughout the past few years from a series of different for-profit owners and managers. Both frontline staff and state inspectors reported a series of troubling care issues including severe short staffing, resident injuries, lack of ample food and missed medication, prompting the state to put the facility into receivership in May, 2023.
Now, under new owners, Pawtucket Falls members of SEIU 1199NE have been trying unsuccessfully to bargain a new contract for the last two months. Despite Pawtucket Falls receiving Medicaid reimbursement rates increases for the last five years (and a large increase for Medicaid rebasing rates in October, 2024), management is proposing only a 1.5% cent raise over two years while increasing healthcare costs and cutting half of workers’ holidays. Over two years of state receivership, workers received no wage increases.
- What: Informational picket to demand fair wages, affordable healthcare and respect
- When: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | Picket is from 2:00-4:00PM with a speaking program at 3:00PM
- Where: Pawtucket Falls: 70 Gill Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02861
- Who: Frontline staff at Pawtucket Falls will be joined by Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, Congressman Seth Magaziner, Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien, Representative Cherie Cruz, and others
Contact: Communications Office of SEIU 1199NE at 860-280-6443 or comms@seiu1199ne.org
###
About SEIU 1199NE: 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.