By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Gov. Gina Raimondo Tuesday called for a quick end to the strike by unionized nurses at Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital owner Lifespan, saying the state depends on the two hospitals.
“I am calling on the parties to get back to the table as quickly as possible to settle this contract. Rhode Islanders deserve a fully-staffed Rhode Island Hospital,” Raimondo said in an interview on Tuesday, the first full day of the strike.
Some 2,400 nurses and other health professionals struck the two hospitals on Monday afternoon, in what was scheduled to be a four-day walkout.
“Let’s let cooler heads prevail. I understand this has been a long time in coming, but let’s let cooler heads prevail, get back to the table, get a contract, because for the interest of Rhode Islanders we need the hospital open and fully staffed,” Raimondo said.
