PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Latest on a nurses’ strike at two Rhode Island hospitals (all times local):
4:05 p.m.
Nurses at two Rhode Island hospitals have returned to work after a strike even though negotiators haven’t agreed on terms for a new contract.
About 2,400 nurses and other health care workers at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence went on strike Monday.
Hospital operator Lifespan said its contract with the firm supplying temporary nurses ended Friday afternoon and permanent employees were brought back.
The strike was set by Local 5098 of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals. The union says some members’ shifts were canceled, which it called a retaliatory measure.
Lifespan says union representatives were informed this could happen because there are fewer patients due to the strike. Negotiators meet again Aug. 8.
The union accuses Lifespan of delaying. Lifespan says it’s a mutually agreed upon date, provided by the federal mediator.
10 a.m.
Nurses at two Rhode Island hospitals plan to return to work after a strike even though negotiators haven’t agreed on terms for a new contract.
About 2,400 nurses and other health care workers at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital went on strike Monday.
Hospital operator Lifespan says its contract with the firm supplying temporary nurses ends Friday afternoon and permanent employees will be brought back then.
Spokesman David Levesque says they expect to have fewer patients than normal because of the strike, so some shifts may be canceled.
Union spokesman Ray Sullivan says that’s a “retaliatory and punitive measure.” The strike was set by Local 5098 of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals.
Negotiators aren’t scheduled to meet Friday. Levesque says the next scheduled meeting is Aug. 8.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.