The Teamsters Union Local 251 and Rhode Island Hospital management have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract that the union says will bring $19 million in improved wages and benefits to workers at the Lifespan hospital network.
The agreement was reached late Friday evening, according to a statement by the union bargaining committee posted on social media.
The pact includes $1.80 per hour in wage hikes over the life of the contract. In addition, full-time employees will get a $225 bonus when the contract is ratified and part-time workers will receive a $10 bonus. There are no concessions or give backs, the union said.
The tentative deal includes what the union bargaining committee calls “strong no layoff protections.’’ All employees will be covered by no layoff provisions when they reach five years of seniority. All teamster –represented workers at Rhode Island Hospital will have a vote on the new contract. No date has been set for the vote.
“Members at Rhode Island Hospital have won these gains and more by mobilizing and sticking togetherin a grassroots campaign for a fair contract,’’ the union said in a statement.
