Hundreds gather for a candlelight vigil in support of striking Butler Hospital workers
In response to Care New England’s recently announced
plans to permanently replace longtime staff, speakers described the
irreplaceable impact of the care provided by the longtime staff at Butler for
their family members. They were joined by local faith leaders, including
Rabbi Barry
Dolinger, Reverend Gabrielle
Sclafani, Mark
Sutherland from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Preston
Neimeiser from Temple Beth-El.
Established in 1844, Butler
Hospital is considered the oldest hospital in Rhode Island and was
founded to treat psychiatric illnesses. Today, it continues to play a vital
role as the region’s leading facility for mental health and substance abuse
support, a need that has grown significantly since the pandemic. Since the
hospital’s inception, Butler’s frontline staff have provided life-saving care
and support to patients from diverse backgrounds.
Here’s the video: We
are Irreplaceable Hundreds of Butler Workers and Supporters to Hold Candlelight
Vigil
Jesse Martin, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199 New England: Today marks a significant moment in our unfair labor practice strike with Butler Hospital. Nearly a week ago, Butler Hospital announced that they were seeking permanent replacements.
Butler Hospital isn’t a building. It isn’t the management
that sits in their offices. It isn’t the historic grounds on this side of
Providence. It is the people that deliver care, the people who work in every
aspect of that care - cooking, food, cleaning units, and making sure our
documents are appropriate, so that we get the best level of care to the folks
on the units, who help people in the most challenging of moments in their lives
to the nurses and the professionals and the pharmacists who help people struggle
through everything.
It is those people who deliver the care who are at Butler
Hospital.
It was clarifying for our members in this struggle against
the unlawful behavior of Butler Hospital, in a struggle against poverty and
disrespect. It was clarifying to know that management of Care New
England does not value their contribution to that care.
Think about that for a moment.
They did not value it in the sense that they thought we were
replaceable. That proved to many of our members that this isn’t a fight for a
better wage, which it is, or a fight for maintaining our healthcare and
retirement. This is a fight for dignity, not only for the caregiver, but for
those we serve. It is a fight to make sure that when we save a life, no matter
how we save it, we are paid the respect and affordability of a decent day’s
work for a decent day’s wage.
Whether we deliver a baby into the world or save someone
from a car accident or a gunshot, this work saves lives and produces a better
society. To think that someone could do it better is a violation of the trust
that caregivers give every single day, every hour of their work.
Not only that, the hospital spent millions of dollars on
shipping in out-of-state replacements who think that they know how to care for
Rhode Island.
Today, we’re going to hear from faith leaders, family
members, and individuals around our state that this is a clarifying moment of
purpose.
We are irreplaceable.
If Butler Hospital thinks it can go out and find better
caregivers, they are sorely mistaken. The people on this picket line —the
people who have sacrificed with their families —are the best kind of people to
care for all of us.
How do I know that? Because they’ve been caring for each
other for a long time, not here out on the picket line, but they’ve been caring
every day for each other. Our patients in that hospital, when they’ve been
short-staffed, underpaid, and they haven’t been given the dignity, in the heart
of COVID, even to be given a mask, because back then, Butler
Hospital didn’t see our members as human beings or the people they cared for as
human beings. They saw them as cannon fodder for their profit.
Care New England, if you have a heart, you’ll sign the
collective bargaining agreement we proposed last week and give our members a
decent contract. Stop wasting the public’s time. Stop wasting our members’
time. Let’s get back to care. Let’s give dignity to this work now, not
tomorrow.
With that, I’d like to introduce our first speaker, a person
I’ve gotten to know who has given a lot of heart and emotional support to our
members on this picket line. I want to thank him and the rest of the faith
leaders in this state who have been here, who have prayed with our members,
because caregiving is often a thankless job, whether you’re paid for it or not.
And to fill your soul is a big part of being able to keep going.
Rabbi Preston Niemeyer: Here we are. Folks, are
you here with me? Find someone. Lock eyes with them. I want you to say, “Here I
am. Here I am.” Say, “Hey neighbor, I am here.” On the other side, you’re going
to tell someone else, “Hey neighbor, here I am. I’m here with you. I’m here and
I’m going to be here with you. I’ll be here with you until we get a fair
contract.”
I’ve been coming out here to this line with y’all for a
month. Lemme tell you, it’s been hot, it’s been rainy, and you know what? I’m
tired. Are you tired? You see the sun starting to set now, and maybe we feel a
little bit like crying because it’s been so long. It’s been so damn long. Has
it been a long time for you, too? It’s been so long. But I come from a
tradition that says that “even though weeping may tarry for the night,” what
comes with the morning? “Joy cometh in the morning.”
So, even though we may be in tears tonight because we
haven’t got a fair contract yet, what happens tomorrow? Joy cometh in the
morning.
A month ago, you walked out. That’s an amazing thing. You
were under Pharaoh’s thumb, and you said, “No more. No more. No more.” You were
under Pharaoh’s thumb. And you said, what? “No more.” And today you’re still
saying it. “No more. No more. No more.”
But you know it’s not so easy when we walk out of Egypt, we
find ourselves in the wilderness, and that’s where we are right now. It’s hard
to be in the wilderness. I’m tired. Virgil’s been cooking for us for a month
now. He’s tired. But I believe that joy cometh in the morning. You believe with
me? Do you believe that together, if we stand tall, then what happens? Joy
cometh in the morning.
I believe that the people on this line are the most
inspirational in this city. I believe that you’re hard-working people. I
believe that this is a family, and I believe that together when we are walking,
we’re praying, and every time I walk this line with you, I’ve been praying with
my feet. You feel like you pray with your feet? You feel like we’re in the
wilderness right now, but guess what? Joy comes in the morning. Joy comes in
the morning. I see something on the other end - on the horizon. That’s the promised
land, the promised land of a fair contract. And though weeping may tarry for a
night, what happens tomorrow? Joy comes in the morning.
Mary Catherine Duffy: I am a social service
clinician here at Butler Hospital. I’ve been here since January 2007. My
family’s journey started here when I was approximately three years old. My mom,
who is here with us tonight, along with my aunt, who has been a major supporter
and best friend, and another best friend I’m referring to, who is also a former
employee of Butler, started this journey many years ago.
My mom has struggled with mental illness her entire adult
life, and probably earlier than that, and she’s brave enough to be here and let
me talk about that tonight. I appreciate that the journey here helped her cope
over the years with depression, OCD, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and at least
one attempt.
And Butler was here to help our family step up, support us,
and meet our needs, especially my mom’s. That journey never ends. For somebody
who struggles with chronic mental health issues that continue, and to have a
place of consistency and love that will help follow that along is what helps
our community and our individuals survive.
There are some of you in this crowd who have worked with my
mom and helped her, and who have supported me along the way. There are also
doctors in there right now who I’ll be eternally grateful for, because they’ve
provided that support as well, which makes it extra difficult to be out here,
as we need that. I’ve needed that. My family needed that. I’ve had friends who
needed that. Without Butler Hospital being here to support our community with
the devotion that all of us here have from every level, from doctors to mental
health workers, to nurses, to social workers, to dietary, to housekeeping, to
medical records - and if I have forgotten any discipline, please forgive me -
we are all an integral part because these patients would not make it without
every one of our help.
I want to thank the community for standing with us, showing
up tonight, and giving us support as we walk by, honking and tooting along the
boulevard. I only hope the administration can appreciate who we are, as they
came up through the ranks that we did. I’m not quite sure where that divide
originated.
Right now, I could say a million different things. I don’t
want to take up too much time, but I know the important difference that every
one of us makes here at Butler Hospital and what our patients mean to us.
That’s the most difficult thing, knowing that we are not there. Butler is a
community. It serves as a safety net for many in our community, for various
reasons. We should be here because they have issues that have led them to that
point in life, and we will be there to support them, and we will be back in
touch. I believe that.
Sy Bedrick: Most of you don’t know me. I’m a
clinical social worker, and I became involved with 1199 last year when my
colleagues and I formed our union at a tiny nonprofit here in Providence called
Youth Pride Inc. Youth Pride is an organization that offers weekly programming,
a drop-in center, and wraparound services to LGBTQ+ and under-resourced youth.
I have personal experience with the devastating
impacts of union busting. You all know as well as I do that worker
solidarity threatens the boss’s egos. My colleagues and I fought for our
contract through a very hostile work environment, and a few of us, including
me, were forced out of our positions, threatened, and defamed through that
struggle. I have seen firsthand that even under extreme duress and in the face
of serious personal loss, care workers like us are willing to go to great
lengths to care for our clients.
Having spoken to some of you on the picket line, I know that
the Butler staff have worked tirelessly through impossible conditions for 5,
10, 25 years. In all that time, this is the first workers’ strike that many of
you have experienced, and I know you did not vote for this lightly. The
decision you made as a union is a testament to your dedication to your work.
You know that the way things were going was unsustainable, and you believe in
the impact and importance of the labor you perform. So do I.
I’ve seen firsthand how care at Butler can transform a
person’s life. I’ve sat in intake with clients going through the worst days of
their lives, and I’ve seen Butler staff approach these individuals with
seasoned care that makes the clients feel safe and seen. I’ve watched as
clients leave inpatient stays here with a renewed sense of self, stronger and
one step closer to the lives that they want.
Much of my experience is with LGBTQ youth. Many of you know
that right now, this country is an extremely inhospitable place for the queer
community, especially for young people. Rhode Island is one of the states that
stands up for LGBTQ+ rights, and facilities like Butler play a large role in
that. Butler offers affirming, respectful, and supportive care that considers
the needs of the diverse clients they serve.
And it’s not just minoritized populations who rely on
Butler’s care. Increasingly, we are experiencing stress and despair in the face
of the rising cost of living. Butler’s dedicated staff are working hard to meet
the growing demand for mental health support as Butler Hospital staff care for
the public amid this rising inequality. Staff are suffering from the same
inequality.
Everyone deserves safe working conditions and income that
allows them to access basic needs, but we are living through a widespread
devaluation and disenfranchisement of the working class. That’s right here at
Butler Hospital. Unfortunately, across the country, we’re seeing over a million
workers injured on the job annually. I know from personal experience how hard
it is to advocate in a hostile work environment. Companies are creating
conditions in which workers can barely survive, let alone fight for fair pay
and safe working environments. But we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that our
labor is what truly keeps the cogs in the machine turning.
Even when it feels impossibly hard, we are the ones with the
power and responsibility to fight back. It is heartening to see workers
negotiating to close wage gaps and insisting on the value of our labor and our
right to respect and dignity. Workers standing in solidarity are fighting not
only for themselves but for the betterment of this entire country as we push
the wave of union power one workplace at a time.
As I begin my career as a clinical therapist, I know from
firsthand experience that supporting one person’s mental health and wellbeing
can have a ripple effect, as that person gains the capacity to pay that care
forward and help others within their community. Each step that the Butler
workers take on that picket line and each patient they treat with their
invaluable expertise and empathy causes a ripple effect. Never doubt the
enormous and exponential impact every one of your actions has.
Devin Stewart: I would like to extend my
gratitude to the union for organizing this event and providing an opportunity
for individuals like me to speak. This community must understand the
significance of the work being done here. For those of you who know me, it’s so
nice to see you and be able to support you during this time. I know it’s been a
few years, but for those of you who don’t know me, I’d like to introduce
myself. “Hi, my name is Devin.”
I have been fortunate to hold various roles here at Butler,
including staff scheduler, payroll specialist, secretary, and mental health
worker. However, I am not the only one in my family who has held an important
role here. First, my mom worked here as a highly regarded occupational
therapist. Many of you may know her, Susan Higgins.
What contributed to my mother’s legacy was my dog, the
lovable pet therapy Bridget the Pug. She was well known among the halls at this
hospital. However, the most important role one of my family members has played
here is that of a patient. My brother was a patient here on multiple occasions,
both as an adolescent and an adult. He was treated on the CITU back when that
unit was here.
As a youth, he was experiencing severe behavioral issues and
was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. But it was
not until we took him to Butler that we realized this was because of a
traumatic brain injury.
When I was asked to speak tonight, I asked my mom why she
brought my brother to Butler. He had been to so many facilities in
Massachusetts, which is where we’re from. As a parent and somebody who works in
the mental health field, she had high standards when it came to her son’s care,
and Butler surpassed all of those standards. She knew, without a doubt, that
the staff were devoted and dedicated to their profession. She knew the
treatment he was getting. She knew the groups that were being helped. She knew that
she would be heard when it came to his treatment.
Overall, she knew that Butler was a different facility from
most. I was young when my brother came here, but when I started working here, I
saw the difference that Butler provided for my brother’s treatment. I think
that Butler saved my brother’s life. If we did not have the Butler staff listen
to my mom, he would be dead. I’m happy to say my brother is doing okay. He’s
stable, living with friends, and is about to turn 33.
Having been on both sides, as a staff member and a family
member of a patient, I’ve had a very difficult time putting my feelings into
words when it comes to Butler’s current state. Butler Hospital has a legacy. It
is the oldest hospital in Rhode Island. It is the first psychiatric facility in
Rhode Island. I used to brag about that in all my psych classes in college. Due
to its reputation, everyone wanted to work here. Butler was turning people
away. Now they have over a hundred vacancies. Why do they have over a hundred
vacancies for a place that 10 years ago, people were fighting to work?
When you treat healthcare like a business, when you are more
concerned about the money coming in, than the people taking care of your
patients and your loved ones, when you bring in staff that don’t know Butler’s
history, and when units are unsafe and don’t have adequate staffing, it’s not
the Butler company that suffers. The patients suffer. The person in need of a
haven suffers. The person who finally agreed to explore treatment suffers. The
family that once took comfort in knowing they could send their loved one to
Butler suffers. All of us suffer.
It doesn’t need to be this way. Butler Hospital has long
been a vital resource for thousands of Rhode Islanders and residents of
Massachusetts. Now, more than ever, it’s time to stand with the dedicated staff
who show up every day, putting their safety and wellbeing on the line to care
for others. For my family and so many others, Butler is a part of our story. We
urge leadership to recognize the humanity of its workforce and return to the
values that made Butler a place of healing and hope.
Rabbi Barry Dolinger: I’m the president of the
Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island. I’ll quote the Bible. It says in
Deuteronomy 24, “You shall not abuse a needy laborer.” Oh?
Devin had it right. This is a community resource. This does
not exist for the benefit of those who profit from it. Butler Hospital exists
to care for our family and community members, so that our wellbeing is
paramount.
You, the workers, don’t deserve to be divided and extorted.
You deserve to be honored and paid a fair wage. It says that God cares for the
most needy in society. You care for the most needy in society, but who cares
for you?
We do.
I see many here from different faiths, people who are here
to say, “You are not alone.” This is not you versus management. This is all of
us, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, all of us - because we all need Butler.
I’ll end on a personal note. This is personal for me. I
think it’s okay to share. It’s no stigma. When my wife had postpartum
depression and was struggling to go back to work, where did she go? Butler. And
who cared for her? You did. And as a result, my family was able to - and I’m
just one story of thousands of stories - all across this state. Thank you for
what you do. We have your back. Stay strong.
Hannah Rosa: I’m a registered nurse on Riverview
3, an intensive treatment unit. I’ve worked at the hospital for 17 years.
That’s not where my relationship with the hospital began. My first encounter
with Butler was as a child visiting my father when he was receiving treatment
for bipolar disorder. My brother, Caleb, took his first steps on Del Monaco 4
in 1985. Butler saved my dad’s life again in 1996 and 2009. His brother, my
uncle Peter, unfortunately lost his battle with depression, dying by suicide in
his thirties. These are some of the many reasons I’m so passionate about the
work I do, and as you can tell from the words shared before mine, my story is
not unique.
I don’t think it’s presumptuous to say that we have all been
touched by mental illness, and while providing care is our passion, it’s not
always easy. To care for our patients, the staff at Butler also needs to take
care of themselves. That’s why we’re standing up to have adequate resources
that allow us to continue providing care to the patients we serve. I am
immeasurably grateful to our 1199 members for their resolve during this
difficult time; to our community and political leaders for their ongoing support;
and to our fearless delegates and organizers for their incredible hard work and
representation. We see you and we appreciate being seen.
Reverend Mark Sutherland: I’m amazed to see so
many tonight. It’s very encouraging. My name is Mark Sutherland. I’m the rector
of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church down at the end of the boulevard. I’m here
tonight as a representative for the Rhode Island Council of Churches. We can’t
let our Jewish rabbi friends hog the limelight. But let me say that I am
privileged to work with these wonderful rabbi colleagues.
We’ve heard some personal stories tonight. I’m here because
I’m not just a representative of a faith community that commits itself to stand
in solidarity with you in defense of the dignity of your work. I’m here because
for 17 years I was a mental health chaplain. I understand, from what Devin
said, that Butler is the oldest hospital in Rhode Island. The hospital where I
worked in London is the oldest institution in the world dedicated to
alleviating mental distress. It was founded in 1247.
Much of my work as a hospital chaplain involved working with
patients. However, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of my work was
collaborating with the staff. To arrive on the ward and know that I was the
right person arriving at the right time to encounter someone who was at the
edge of their tolerance.
This work is so hard. Part of what makes it hard is that
mental health is always understaffed, whether it’s here, in London, or anywhere
else. Mental health is always the Cinderella of healthcare. Those of you who
work in the mental health system are subjected to stresses and pressures that
other areas of healthcare don’t experience. I understand that one of the issues
that has prompted you to go on strike has been the dangerously low staffing
levels. Understaffing on a psychiatric ward is dangerous, not for the patients,
but for the staff. I know what that’s like, and I’m here to stand and say, “I’m
with you in support of your protest.”
One of the things that always amazes me about management is
that they often seem to overlook the fact that the success of any enterprise is
based on the respect given to its most valuable resource: its staff.
I understand that Can New England needs to make a profit,
but you will not make a profit if you don’t work in cooperation and give
respect to the very people who will enable you to make that profit. There are
members of my community who are on the picket line here, working at Butler, and
a number of community members have relied on the support and treatment this
wonderful hospital has provided over the years.
I want to read to you something I shared with the parish
last week. It’s the best statement that I have found, from a faith perspective,
about why we are here tonight: “The economy must serve people, not the other
way around. Work is more than a way to make a living. It’s a form of continuing
participation in God’s creation. Suppose the dignity of work is to be
protected. In that case, the basic rights of the worker must be respected, the
right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, the organization and
joining of unions, private property, and economic initiative. These are the
fundamental aspects that will ensure the profit and flourishing of any economic
enterprise.”
Carrie Jones: The opportunity to share this
tonight is valued and very appreciated. I’m a registered nurse on R2 here at
Butler Hospital. Although I have only been at Butler Hospital for a little
under a year, Butler has become my home, and my coworkers have become my second
family. I chose Butler Hospital because my drive to help people who are
suffering from a mental health illness, whether it be addiction, anxiety,
depression, and so on, fuels my soul. Seeing a patient emerge from a crisis,
regain wellbeing, and work toward a more fulfilling life is incredibly
rewarding. Psychiatric nursing is not a job. It’s a calling.
Being a part of this field and playing a role in supporting
individuals on their journey to mental wellbeing is a point of pride.
Psychiatric nursing provides the privilege of meeting people during their most
challenging moments, offering support and assisting them in navigating the
complexities of their mental health journey.
Butler Hospital and our staff are a staple in our community.
It is the only hospital in the state focused on mental health and solely on
mental health. I can truly say that I love what I do here. There’s something
about advocating for our patients and helping our community understand that
it’s okay not to be okay. Working alongside my Butler family, which includes
fellow nurses, mental health workers, coders, housekeepers, dietary staff,
secretaries, social workers, and other professionals, makes it that much easier
for me to know that I’ve chosen the right profession, despite the difficulties
we face on a daily basis.
We show up because we care, and because we pride ourselves
on breaking the stigma associated with mental health, which, given how we are
often undervalued by management, is a point in itself. This strike is more than
just about wages and staffing. We should be valued the same way we value our
patients.
There was a point in time, a couple of years ago, when I had
a very personal struggle with a mental health crisis. My son, who had graduated
from high school, came to me and stated, “I do not want to live anymore.” Now,
as most of you can imagine, that broke my entire soul. My heart and human form
were facing something I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. He was extremely depressed
and felt so hopeless that he felt the only way out was to hang himself off a
bridge. It was then that I put my faith in Butler Hospital, and we sought help.
I’m happy to say Butler saved my son’s life. He’s here with
me today, thriving. I’m hoping and praying that we resolve this strike sooner
rather than later. I miss caring for our patients. They need us.
Reverend Gabrielle Sclafani: Good evening,
family. We are here tonight to pray for a fair contract for the workers at
Butler. We’ve come together in prayer for everyone who is impacted by this
hospital and by these workers, for everyone who works in our healthcare system,
who also deserves justice.
I am a healthcare chaplain. I work with children, and I know
how important our hospitals are to care for our families. We need mental health
care. God, please come to us. Join us tonight to secure fair contracts for all
workers at Butler’s Hospital. Amen.
Ada: I didn’t plan on speaking, but I think I
knew I was going to, if I got a chance, if I came here. I was a patient here
when I was 13 years old. Three times, I was severely suicidal. I tried to kill
myself, and I don’t bring that up a lot because I’ve moved past it. It’s not
who I am anymore. However, I think it’s relevant because the people at Butler
saved my life and showed me care, respect, and dignity - qualities they should
be expected to exhibit in their work.
Jesse Martin: That’s brave. And I would say that
the moment we have right now tonight, and the movement that Butler hospital
workers are making at this moment, is beyond ourselves and for the dignity of
everybody. We care for everybody in our community. So many people have said
today and every day of this strike, we’re going to last one day longer.
Sally: I’m a nurse. I was a nurse. I’m an
83-year-old woman now, but I’ve worked in various nursing roles throughout my
career. I’ve worked in various settings across different hospitals. I’m so
touched by every single one of you. I know what you’re going through. I know
what you deserve. I know how hard it is. I want every single one of you to know
that you matter. You are so important, and we love you. Thank you.
Jesse Martin: This has been quite a powerful
number of speakers. I think it would be powerful for us to have a moment of
silence. I am proud to say that we ran out of glow sticks due to the turnout.
So if you have a phone and a flashlight or some form of illumination, I’d like
to do a moment of silence after this next speaker to recognize all the
connectedness. Butler Hospital lights up the world.
With that, I think we should observe a moment of silence and
reflection.
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