The largest union at Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital is expressing concern about contract talks, as well as the closing of a home health and hospice agency.
But Centurion, the Atlanta-based nonprofit that completed its purchase of the hospitals in March, said the agency was already closed, and it rejects United Nursing and Allied Professional’s assertion of foot-dragging on talks to reach a new contract.
The union plans to stage an informational picket outside Fatima from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15 to highlight its concerns.
“The union is raising a red flag because not only is the closure of home health a major issue that will impact patient care, but it could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of what else they may be looking to cut,” UNAP said in a statement Monday.
Centurion spokesman Otis Brown said via email that the home health program did not exist when Centurion closed on its acquisition of Roger Williams and Fatima from their former California-based owner.
“CharterCARE’s home care program was not operational at the time of the sale,” Brown said. “Our prior owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, made the decision to close it in late 2025 based on declining volume, significant monthly losses and the availability of more than 60 competing home care agencies in RI.”
UNAP President Lynn Blais was among those joining in the acquisition celebration on March 6 when Gov. Dan McKee, other top state officials and Centurion CEO Ben Mingle gathered in the lobby of Roger Williams to celebrate the long-sought completion of Centurion’s takeover. The deal was facilitated with $18 million in funds approved by the General Assembly and McKee.
More recently, though, UNAP has run ads in the Providence Journal to express its unhappiness about the lack of a new contract with Centurion after more than five months of talks.
UNAP accused Centurion of going back on its word after the purchase of the hospitals
“They said that they planned ‘to invest in services and programs to improve access for Rhode Islanders, especially for home health.’ And they said that they planned ‘significant outreach to the community to promote access to home health services,’” UNAP said in its statement.
Brown said that when Centurion closed on its deal for the Rhode Island hospitals, “we made the (state) Department of Health and Attorney General's office aware of the closing and current status” of the home health agency. “The union’s allegation that we have violated any regulatory condition is not true.”
Brown said UNAP’s informational picket will not impede access to Fatima or affect services at the hospital.
“CharterCARE has made a competitive wage and benefit package offer at the bargaining table and UNAP has not yet provided a full response to that, despite having it since August,” he said.
“We believe that should be the focus at the bargaining table, not a former service line. We look forward to reaching an agreement that is fair to union members as well as our hospitals.”
