The contract with one union representing VNAs of Care New England workers expired on Feb. 1 and the contract with a second union is set to expire May 31.  Talks with both groups continue, according to Care New England.

Meanwhile, at Butler Hospital, a Care New England hospital, workers continue to strike.

The first publicly visible demonstration that VNA negotiations with 1199SEIU were taking a long time occurred early this month when about 25 physical and occupational therapists and social workers staged an informational picket outside Kent Hospital.

The picketers, whose contract expired Feb. 1, are seeking wages comparable to those of physical and occupational therapists at Women & Infants Hospital. They are also looking for improved benefits, including paid off time.

In a statement released Wednesday, CNE said it is negotiating with two unions representing VNA employees.

“There have been many productive bargaining sessions with 1199 SEIU NE. We have been able to reach several tentative agreements on that contract. We will continue to work diligently and in good faith to negotiate a fair contract for all,” the statement reads.

“We have also held several sessions with the Federation of Visiting Nurses and Health Professionals, AFT Local #5022, the union that represents nurses, home health aides and clerical staff at the VNA. We are in the early stages of these negotiations and look forward to coming to terms on outstanding proposals.”

That contract expires on May 31.

In a statement released Tuesday, Mary E. Marran, president and COO of Butler Hospital, said, “Despite SEIU 1199 NE taking its members off the job, Butler Hospital remains open for business. While we would prefer to have our own employees working with patients, we have highly qualified replacement workers here who will continue to be here, fulfilling Butler's essential role in the community by providing vital behavioral-health services. Our team will be here when the union decides it is ready to come back to the table and work toward a solution.”

Marran added that, to maintain operational capacity, Butler was forced to hire temporary agency staff through an agency, costing the hospital millions of dollars. “The hospital will continue to make payments to the agency for the duration of the strike, as our top priority is to provide services to our patients and the Rhode Island community.”