Butler workers continue sit-in as strike continues during negotiation

[Omaha Steve]

Butler Hospital workers continue an hours-long sit-in as they strike for a new contract on June 13, 2025. (WJAR)

https://turnto10.com/news/local/gallery/butler-workers-continue-sit-in-as-strike-continues-during-negotiation-june-13-2025

by NBC 10 NEWSFri, June 13th 2025 at 11:11 AM

Butler Hospital workers continue an hours-long sit-in as they strike for a new contract on June 13, 2025. (WJAR)

(WJAR) — Butler Hospital union workers continue their hours-long sit-in as part of their strike for a new contract.

The union wants better wages and safer working conditions.

The hospital released this statement:

We have a bargaining session scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, and hope SEIU 1199 NE will commit to engaging in a constructive, solutions-focused dialogue at that time. While we respect the right to peaceful demonstration, it is disheartening that after 29 days on strike, the union appears more focused on public theatrics than on returning to the bargaining table to achieve real progress. We urge SEIU 1199 NE to prioritize the negotiation process so that together we can reach a sustainable agreement that honors our workforce and protects the long-term sustainability of Butler Hospital and the patients we are privileged to serve.

The hospital has posted all of the striking workers' jobs. It says it will welcome any employee back who hasn't been replaced.

[dutch777]

1. Given the hospital is non-profit and specializes in mental health practice it may have major cash flow issues

Mental health services are poorly covered by most private and governmental insurances and as such having that as the major focus of practice it is tough to cover operational costs. This is the reason most hospitals don't provide mental health services despite the great need, it just rarely pencils. Having worked for 12 years in a community hospital in a well healed Seattle suburb which was in the top 100 ranked hospitals nationally, we flowed $1 billion thru the books yearly and at the end of the year were lucky to be cash positive $1 million. I retired right before the pandemic and with Fed dollars they did okay thru Covid but since the subsidies stopped and prices have risen, last year they ran $90 million into the red and if they can't restructure and increase cash flow they will have to either sell to a for profit system or close within two years. Folks think there is some great reserve from the state or Fed government or private insurance that supports hospitals, but there is not. It's basically a very sophisticated and complex mom and pop cash flow business. We had about 300 SEIU eligible employees (although many eligible chose not to join the union). If we wanted to give them $2/hr wage increase for a 2,000 hour work year that is $1.2 million a year in wages plus an increase in employer share of social security and other taxes. They are necessary and valued employees and mission critical, but sometimes there are limits.