Teamsters 251 & UNAP 5098 March and Rally on Lifespan Corporate Offices on February 2nd

Nurses, health technicians, skilled trades and other hospital staff protested with community leaders outside Rhode Island Hospital today. The crowd then marched to Lifespan’s corporate headquarters for a rally there. Speakers at the rally called on Rhode Island hospital and its owner, the Lifespan Corporation, to put an end to policies that punish workers for getting sick and that put patients’ health at risk.

Allied health, skilled trades and all non-nursing workers at Rhode Island Hospital are represented by Teamsters Local 251 in East Providence. All nurses at Rhode Island Hospital are represented by United Nurses & Allied Professionals (UNAP) Local 5098.

“We represent health technicians, dietary, skilled trade, maintenance and many other workers at Rhode Island Hospital,” said Matthew Taibi, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 251. “Instead of bargaining in good faith with its union employees, as it is required to do by law, the hospital unilaterally changed its policies so that workers are punished for being sick for consecutive days or on weekends. It also punishes part-time workers by disciplining them more readily than full-time workers. Even those who have to stay home with a sick child could be punished.”

“These punitive policies put pressure on workers to come to work while sick,” Taibi continued. “If it means you might lose your job, you’re not going to stay home. Why would a hospital – with a mission to protect patients’ health – enact policies that can lead to patients contracting illnesses in the hospital?”

January Monthly Membership Meeting Notice

In accordance with Teamsters Local 251 Bylaws, Section 14 A(2), the Executive Board gives official notice for the Sunday January 29, 2017 regular membership meeting. An annual financial report will be given for 2016, and a motion will be entertained for salary increases for officers, agents representatives and organizers. Please get involved in your Local Union and try to attend this meeting.

This meeting is also the first in the new term of Elected Officers and Business Agents and the meeting will begin with a swearing-in ceremony.

Teamsters 251 & UNAP Call Informational Picket of Rhode Island Hospital

Teamsters Local 251 & UNAP are united against Rhode Island Hospital management for changing the sick leave & absenteeism policy.

The new policy is unfair. We are exposed to sick people every day at work! We’re human and we get sick!

Lifespan’s policy also pressures employees who are sick to come to work or risk discipline. Do patients and their families really want to be exposed to sick employees who are forced to come to work for fear of losing their job?

Teamsters Local 251 calls on RI Hospital management to show they value their workers and their patients by bargaining in good faith on such an important policy change.

Please join us for an informational picket in solidarity with workers at RI Hospital.

593 Eddy St, Providence, RI, Wednesday January 11, 2017 from 2 – 4:30 pm.

Teamsters & UNAP will hold joint RIH membership meetings January 4th.

UNAP and Teamsters Local 251 are holding joint membership meetings on Wednesday, January 4th to discuss Lifespan’s changes to the attendance policy at Rhode Island Hospital. Please join us at the Teamsters Hall, 121 Brightridge Ave, in East Providence at 8:15am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:15pm, or 8:00pm.

FAQs about RIH’s Absenteeism Policy

Many members have questions about the unfair new absenteeism policy imposed by management at Rhode Island Hospital.

Local 251 and UNAP are taking united action against the new policy. We will be holding a joint membership meeting soon.

While we fight the policy, we also want to inform members so you can protect yourself and enforce your rights.

Here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Local 251 Election Results

Teamsters Local 251 completed our Local Election of Officers & Agents with the counting of the mail ballots on October 29, overseen by an independent election service.

Congratulations to the officers and agents elected, and thanks to all the members who participated by voting in the election.

The following candidates were elected for a term from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019:

Secretary Treasurer: Matthew Taibi
President: Paul Santos
Vice President: Antonio Suazo
Recording Secretary: Brooke Reeves
Trustee: Dennis Lavallee
Trustee: Carl Chicoine
Trustee: Decio Goulart
Business Agent: Paul Santos
Business Agent: Matthew Maini
Business Agent: Alan Torigian
Business Agent: Bob Sayer
Business Agent: Nick Williams

Click here to view the full results from the Official Certification.

Notice to All Members of Local Union 251 from the IBT Election Supervisor

Decision issued October 17, 2016.

Click here to read the Oct. 17, 2016 Notice from the Office of the Election Supervisor.

Click here to read the entire decision from the Office of the Election Supervisor.

Notice of IBT Election

The ballot count in the election for IBT officers will begin at 10:00 am Eastern on November 14, 2016.

Click here to read the full notice (Spanish version) from the Office of the Election Supervisor.

Watch the Video of the IBT Officer Candidates Forum

General President Candidates Fred Zuckerman and General Secretary-Treasurer Candidate Ken Hall answered questions at the IBT Officer Candidates Forum on August 25, 2016. Members viewed the forum live on C-SPAN, and on the Teamsters web page and Facebook page, and the forum was recorded.

Now, the entire forum may be viewed in the Candidate Videos section of http://www.ibtvote.org, or on the Election Supervisor’s Vimeo page, http://www.vimeo.com/oesibt.

Click here to read the full notice (Spanish version) on videos of the Candidates Forum from the Office of the Election Supervisor.

Informational picket and rally at Horizon Beverage, August 31st

8 workers employed at Horizon Beverage in West Greenwich RI voted to join Teamsters Local 251 on January 6, 2016, demanding dignity and respect, fair wages and good benefits. Teamsters represent workers in the beer, liquor and wine distribution industry, and seek to raise the standards of Horizon Beverage workers to Teamster standards.

What: Informational Picket & Rally

When: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 starting at 6am

Where: Horizon Beverage
119 Hopkins Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI 02817

Please stand with Horizon Beverage workers and Teamsters Local 251 members in calling for a fair contract. Nothing in this statement should be construed to express any intention to engage in a strike or other concerted refusal to work.