We are Irreplaceable: Hundreds of Butler Hospital workers and supporters to hold a Candlelight Vigil – Steve Ahlquist

People looking for a way to do some good in a world that seems under siege should conside coming out to Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd in Providence at 8 pm tonight and join hundreds of Butler Hospital union workers, along with family members, fellow union members, and clergy gathering for a candlelight vigil to honor both the patients they serve and the dedicated frontline caregivers who provide essential mental health services every day.
Local faith leaders will include: Rabbi Barry Dolinger, Reverend Gabrielle Sclafani, Mark Sutherland from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, and Rabbi Preston Neimeiser from Temple Beth-El.

The more than 800 healthcare professionals represented by SEIU 1199NE are calling on hospital leadership to recognize their irreplaceable commitment to patient care by ensuring safe staffing levels, fair and livable wages, and improved workplace safety conditions. On June 3, Butler management announced plans to permanently replace longtime staff who began their unfair labor practice strike on May 15. This occurred just days after Butler terminated workers’ medical benefits on May 31, despite the workers’ ongoing efforts to bargain in good faith and reach a contract settlement. As of May 14, Butler admitted that they have spent over $3 million on temporary workers.

This event is open to the public and all whose lives have been touched by the care and dedication of Butler’s longtime staff
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Thank you SO MUCH for getting this out before the vigil happened! I will be there.
I wrote friends about this event this morning, and one wrote back she hadn’t heard about it. It occurred to me that we need to get out the word – constantly – about Steve’s writing, and also about Katherine Ahlquist’s weekly “Side with Love – things you can do this Week” email. katherine.ahlquist@gmail.com.
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