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Nurses say they are walking to demand competitive wages, affordable health insurance, and stronger protections for patient care.

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Approximately 4,500 nurses and clinicians at two Mass General Brigham units will walk off the job on July 8 unless hospital executives reach new labor agreements, setting the stage for what the union says will be the largest nurses’ strike in Massachusetts history.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association issued the required 10-day strike notice, saying workers are seeking contracts that include competitive wages, affordable health insurance, investments in the permanent nursing workforce, and stronger protections for patient care.

The planned walkout includes more than 4,000 registered nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and about 450 clinicians at Mass General Brigham Home Care.

“(Mass General Brigham) executives are forcing 4,000 Brigham nurses to strike by choosing corporate profits over patient care,” said Kelly Morgan, RN, a labor and delivery nurse and chair of the union’s bargaining committee, in a statement. 

“MGB has spent years disrespecting nurses and ignoring our safety concerns,” she continued. “We are standing up for our patients, our profession, and the future of care at the Brigham.”

Brigham nurses scheduled a one-day strike beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8. The strike comes after nearly 100% of Brigham nurses voted on June 16 to authorize a one-day strike following seven months of negotiations. 

Despite their willingness to return to work the next day, the nurses’ union said executives plan to lock them out for an additional four days. The hospital did not respond to this accusation. 

However, in response to the news of the strike, Mass General Brigham noted that the nurses are among the highest-compensated in the market and currently receive a 5% annual wage step increase, along with competitive health benefits and professional development opportunities. 

“We respect and value our nurses and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement,” the hospital said. 

Home Care Clinicians fight for first contract

The Mass General Brigham Home Care Clinicians, who are negotiating their first contract after voting to unionize in June 2024, said they will begin a seven-day strike on July 8, lasting through July 15. 

The Home Care unit includes registered nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, and dietitians. 

Home Care provides intermittent, post-acute skilled care and therapies to patients following a hospital stay at a skilled nursing or long-term acute care facility or after outpatient surgery. 

Home Care nurses voted 92% on May 19 to authorize a seven-day strike. 

The picketing will take place at the Mass General Home Care facilities in Beverly, Braintree, Chelsea, Newton, and Somerville on the first day, with the following dates only taking place at the Somerville location at Assembly Row. 

“We have spent more than a year trying to negotiate a fair first contract,” said Shannon Viera, RN, chair of the bargaining committee, in a statement. “We do not want to strike, but we need enforceable standards and meaningful improvements so clinicians can continue providing the quality care our patients deserve.”

In response, the hospital said it has proposed making changes to overtime, enhancing on-call pay, and improving pay scales.

“Safe, high-quality patient care remains Mass General Brigham’s top priority,” the hospital said in a statement. “Highly qualified clinicians will be ready to begin work to ensure continuity of care for our patients.”