More than 4,000 nurses Brigham and Women’s Hospital and about 450 home health workers walked off the job Wednesday, launching what union officials are calling the the largest strike in the health sector in the history of Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association said the walkout comes after seven months of failed negotiations over its members’ salaries, health insurance costs and staff protections.
The union has only approved a one-day strike, but Brigham management says nurses won’t be allowed to return to work until July 13, five days later. In fact, the hospital has hired temporary replacement nurses and is contractually required to give them five days of work.
“Brigham nurses cannot work during a strike. We have comprehensive emergency preparedness plans in place to ensure safe, high-quality patient care. This includes the use of qualified, temporary nurses, many of whom practice at leading academic medical centers across the country, who will be integrated into our care teams and provide safe patient care throughout the work stoppage,” the hospital said in a statement. FAQ page posted on its website Wednesday.
Separately, striking home care clinicians – who are negotiating their first-ever contract after unionizing in 2024 – launched their own strike the same day, but theirs is expected to last a full seven days.
“We are seeking safety standards and support from MGB so we can continue to provide high-quality care for a wide range of patient needs,” Shannon Viera, chair of the Mass General Brigham Massachusetts Nurses Association Home Care Negotiating Committee, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, MGB refused to negotiate with us ahead of a 7-day strike, forcing clinicians onto the picket line to defend patient safety and the professional respect we deserve. »
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey intervened and brought both sides at the State House Wednesday afternoon to try to reach an agreement as the strike continues. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also helped bring the meeting together. They are treating the issue as a major public concern — which is not common, given that lawmakers generally don’t take health care labor disputes that seriously.
It is not yet clear whether the meeting succeeded in bringing the two sides closer to an agreement. The union says its side is willing to continue negotiations for as long as necessary to reach a fair contract.
At the heart of the conflict is a disagreement over wages. The union is asking for a 3 percent raise in the first six months of an 18-month contract and 4 percent over the next year, but Mass General is offering no across-the-board raises beyond the 5 percent annual raise that nurses already receive each year.
The hospital estimates the union’s proposal would cost $128 million over the life of the contract. Union leaders counter that Mass General can afford it.
With $35.8 billion in assets, Mass General is one of the wealthiest health systems in the country. In 2024, it paid its 14 most senior executives a combined sum $35.9 million.
Photo: Alona Horkova, Getty Images