The Public’s Radio

Medical Residents at Three Care New England Hospitals Vote to Unionize

The votes come a week after almost 700 of their colleagues at Rhode Island Hospital won their union election

The votes come a week after almost 700 of their colleagues at Rhode Island Hospital won their union election

1 min read
Share
The Public’s Radio
Medical Residents at Three Care New England Hospitals Vote to Unionize
Copy

Medical residents employed by three Care New England hospitals voted Wednesday to unionize with Service Employees International Union’s Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU).

Residents at Kent Hospital won their union election with 72.5% of the vote, 74-28. At Women and Infants they won their union election 40-8, or 83% of the vote. Finally, Butler residents won with 92% of the vote, 33-3. CIR-SEIU now represents about 230 residents at these hospitals, whether they voted for the union or not.

Residents organized on a platform of wages and benefits that more fairly reflect the fact that they can sometimes work 80 hours in a single week. The starting salaries at those hospitals, according to a spokesperson from CIR-SEIU, are $70,555 at Butler, $63,985 at Kent, and $66,978 at Women & Infants. Other residents who have organized with CIR-SEIU have seen their salaries rise by more than $15,000 after getting a first contract under a new union.

This story was reported by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

The cheap mill spaces that helped put the city on the map have vanished
Price negotiations between developer and utility companies now set to end June 30
Whether it’s national, local, new or an encore, here’s what to watch this April on Rhode Island PBS