Dear Valued Butler Employee,
I’m writing to you not just as President of Butler Hospital, but as someone whose heart and history are deeply rooted in this place. Over forty years ago, I walked these halls as a young occupational therapist, learning from the very people who made Butler the extraordinary institution it is. That experience has shown constantly that Butler is far more than just a workplace. Butler Hospital is a community, a place of healing for some of the most vulnerable citizens of our state, and a source of purpose and pride for you: the people who care for our patients and support our operations.
This place is not just where we work—it’s where we belong. And that’s why this moment is of such great importance to all of us in the Butler community.
I want to speak with you honestly. I understand the emotions behind the strike—your calls for change come from a place of care, of wanting Butler to be better for you, for our patients, and for the future. I respect your voices. But advocating for what matters is most effective when rooted in common interest, not division.
Our commitment to you is reflected in the proposal we put forward. Behavioral health care is underfunded across the nation, and no relief is on the immediate horizon. Despite that, our most recent proposal guaranteed for four years:
- Across-the-board pay increases for all employees, and up to 40% for some of our lowest-wage employees;
- A $0 premium health plan option, and significantly reduced premiums for other plan options, while maintaining partial employer funding for employee Health Savings Accounts through the first three years of the proposed agreement;
- No changes to current employees’ pensions, and a new retirement benefit for future staff.
These aren’t just numbers on paper; they are meaningful efforts to invest in our community, and to preserve the pride in the work we do.
And yet, we have been met not with good faith compromise, but with resistance. The union has not meaningfully responded to our proposals. Bargaining is a give-and-take process, but the union’s demands ignore that reality. That is not the pathway to an agreement.
The choice to strike has profound, reverberating consequences. The Hospital expressed this to the union on May 7th, when we made a last, best, and final offer. We were clear with the union that the last, best, and final offer represented the full extent of our position regarding wages, retirement, and insurance. Because of the strike, we now must spend resources on replacement workers in order to preserve the services our patients need and deserve, our latest proposal is less than the last, best, and final offer. This was not the outcome we wanted, but we clearly communicated to the union before the strike that this would happen. Despite that clear communication, the union chose to strike rather than negotiate.
We will continue to negotiate in good faith in an effort to reach agreement, but no future proposal will match or exceed the last, best, and final offer.
I encourage you to visit the butlerinfoforyou.org website for the latest updates. Our proposals have been made public because we believe you deserve to see and understand what is being offered. We believe that transparency fosters trust and empowers informed decision-making. We recommend you ask yourself whether union leadership has taken steps to share the proposals they currently have on the table. There is no legitimate legal reason preventing union leadership from doing the same.
Butler has proudly stood as a pillar of care since 1844—not just in Rhode Island, but across the nation. Its legacy of innovation, compassion, and resilience is something we are all a part of. That’s why we are still at the table. Above all, we continue to welcome you back—because we are better when we’re together. Butler is committed to protecting every employee from bullying or harassment. No one should feel unsafe or pressured when making personal decisions about their livelihood and the financial security and well-being of their families. We will do everything we can to protect the safety of those who choose to return to work.
With deep respect,
– Mary E. Marran, MS, OT, MBA, President and COO, Butler Hospital
