Shop Stewards: Our Union’s Frontline

Local 251 is taking action to increase union representation and fill shop steward vacancies.

Where resignations and vacancies left members without shop steward representation, we have recruited volunteers and made temporary shop steward appointments.

In the new Local 251, every member has the right to elect their shop steward.

Members can call for a shop steward election by turning in a petition for an election that is signed by over 30 percent of the Teamsters in a bargaining unit.

Voting will be fair and transparent with observers present.

Local 251 Members Vote to Support Workers Organizing for Justice at the Renaissance Hotel

Teamster Local 251 members voted at the General Membership Meeting to support the boycott of the Renaissance Hotel in Providence until workers there are given the right to form a union and organize for better working conditions, higher pay and respect.

We stand behind Renaissance Hotel workers in their struggle for justice.

Rhode Island Hospital Contract Negotiations Update – Wednesday, Oct. 29

Today, your Union Negotiating Committee met with management and presented 86 proposals to address members’ contract language concerns.

The Union Negotiating Committee proposed contract improvements.

Management came to the table with a proposal to eliminate the No Layoffs clause from the contract.

Local 251 members want good jobs and quality patient care. They don’t want to see our Job Security attacked.

Epic Update

Negotiations around Epic were more productive.

Last week, the Union Committee gave management proposals to address job security, retraining and other issues related to Epic.

The Hospital responded today with their first proposals about Epic.

Management moved in our direction and put forward proposals to protect jobs through retraining, filling vacant positions and respecting bumping rights.

Management estimates that 75 to 100 positions may be eliminated over the 18 months that Epic is implemented. This includes positions that are vacant right now.

The Union will fight for a fair severance package for any employee that is displaced by Epic.

We will also work to get a voluntary severance or buyout offer put on the table for employees who are considering moving on or retiring.

That could help protect job security for employees who want to stay.

Our number one goal is protecting members’ job security through retraining, filling vacant positions and respecting bumping rights. We will continue to negotiate over these important details.

What’s Next

Our proposals today focused on changes in contract language. Economic issues like fair wages, healthcare and retirement will be addressed later in contract negotiations.

Contract negotiations will resume on November 19.

The Contract Action Team will distribute more information soon.

It’s your Contract. Stay informed. Stay involved. Stay United.

Text CONTRACT to 313131 to sign up for contract updates straight to your phone.

Hospital Contract Negotiations Update – Tuesday, Oct. 21

  The Union Contract Negotiating Committee sat down across the table from management for the first time on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Negotiations began with an Opening Statement by President Paul Santos who made it very clear that the Union’s approach to contract negotiations will be different this time around and […]

Paul Santos Opening Statement at Rhode Island Hospital Contract Talks

To begin negotiations, Local 251 President Paul Santos gave the following Opening Statement to Lou Sperling and management’s bargaining committee. Good morning. We’re glad to be here and look forward to productive negotiations on a new contract. Before we begin, I want to make a few things clear about our […]

Your Contract Negotiating Committee

Members at Rhode Island Hospital voted unanimously to approve the committee that will meet with management to bargain our new contract.

The Negotiating Committee includes Local 251 officers and representatives as well as Teamsters who work at the Hospital, including: Bob Antaya (Facilities), Armando Brasil (CNA), Decio Goulart (Laundry), Brooke Reeves (Clerical), Gary DaSilva (MRI) and Antonio Suazo (Transport).

The Local 251 officers and representatives on the Negotiating Committee include: Secretary-Treasurer Matthew Taibi, President Paul Santos, Contract Coordinator David Robbins, Business Agent Eddie Carreiro and Negotiator/Spokesperson Stefan Ostrach.

RIH Contract Bulletin

Contract negotiations will begin on October 21, but members are already getting involved.

You have filled out contract surveys, spoken out on the issues and made your voices heard.

Members identified higher wages, better retirement benefits, and protecting our healthcare as the top economic priorities.

You also named job security, understaffing, and harassment among top issues that need to be addressed.

Instead of dealing with these problems, management said the current contract should be extended for another year, with no changes in contract language. Management called for a one-time bonus and no wage increases.

The Contract Action Team (CAT) voted unanimously against this approach. It’s time to deal with members’ concerns and negotiate a new contract.

The Contract Action Team includes more than 50 stewards and volunteers from different departments and shifts. Their job is to keep members informed and united throughout negotiations.

Local 251 members elected a Contract Negotiating Committee as part of the voting for shop stewards in February.

The Negotiating Committee and the CAT are going through the surveys and putting together contract proposals. This includes proposals to protect members’ job security and rights as the Hospital prepares to implement EPIC.

The Bargaining Platform will be presented to the members at an important Contract Meeting on Saturday, October 18.

Stay informed. Stay united!

Click here to download the 2-page Contract Update.

Read more here on what Rhode Island Hospital members have to say.

Download the Latest Bargaining Update

Find out what happened in negotiations. Download the new bulletin. Pass it along.

Information + Unity = Power to Win a Fair Contract.