Labor & Workers
Labor unions, workers' rights, and employment
Healthcare workers picket outside Fatima about patient safety concerns
Prospect CharterCare refuses to negotiate contracts that provide sufficient wages, benefits, and working conditions for these health care workers – inaction that will lead to a decline in quality of care for patients. Instead, the hospital chain has paid out nearly $700 million to shareholders.
Caregivers at Women & Infants picket in response to staffing and funding concerns
Hospital caregivers are demanding Care New England sit down with themto discuss how best to invest ARPA funds in critical workforce stabilization measures including competitive wage increases, safer staffing levels, free or reduced training and career development.
Driven to Strike by Maddie King
Uprise RI comic artist Maddie King with their second piece on labor battles in Rhode Island, this time centered on the DHL strike in Pawtucket.
First Student bus drivers and workers announce open strike beginning Nov. 2
Public schools in Cranston, West Warwick, Lincoln and private/specialty schools across the state will be impacted.
Blackstone Valley Community Health Center strike averted
In a new feature at Uprise RI comic artist Maddie King writes, "...by posing to exercise their right to strike, the 1199 didn't have to do so..."
"These living conditions are deplorable": Block Island worker calls for livable housing, safe working conditions, and time off for summer staff
"We were at the bottom pretty much. We were in this shack that was probably one of the most deplorable places I've ever lived in my life. It was just two beds in a room. It was just this nasty wood floor. There were bugs everywhere... The housing conditions are some of the worst conditions I think I've ever lived in."
DHL workers in Pawtucket striking for livable wages and healthcare
"I can't afford healthcare. I'm single, on my own," said DHL Worker Amber Fortier. "They offered 60% coverage, but we found out it was only 60% for an individual. When people have families that 60% isn't covering their spouse and children."
Workers at Bally's in Lincoln voting to strike today
Since the end of the most recent wave of Covid, business at Bally's has returned to pre-pandemic levels, say workers. But Bally's has only called back around 40% staff. This means that those who are back at work are working twice as hard.
Seven Stars owners voluntarily recognize new union
“I am so excited about our recognition from the company," said Natasha Brennan, a barista at the Point St. location. "All of us love our jobs and love each other. As Seven Stars continues to grow with more locations, we want ourselves and our future coworkers to have better protections, wages, and benefits. Unionization ensures this for everyone.”
Seven Stars barista Izzie Cossey talks about unionization effort
"Currently we have three stores that are unionizing. We have Hope Street, Point Street and Broadway. We're in the process of working towards getting our other two stores, Cranston and Rumford, unionized, and we're working really hard to get our production facility to be in the same process...."