About 4,000 nurses from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, represented by the Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA), are preparing to start an open‑ended strike on Thursday. The union says the nurses are demanding a higher wage scale, limits on the use of traveling and temporary nurses, and affordable health‑insurance options.
Hospital’s response
Mass General Brigham (MGB), the hospital system that runs Brigham and Women’s, says patient care remains its “highest priority.” The system plans to bring in temporary nurses – many of whom helped during the July work stoppage – to keep services running. “We are utilizing real‑time safety monitoring and clear escalation pathways for any issues that can arise both in planning and during a potential strike,” said Dr. Paul Biddinger, MGB’s chief preparedness officer, during an October media briefing.
The hospital noted that during the July strike it saw no increase in the number or severity of safety events. Karen Fiumara, vice president of patient safety, reiterated that the system’s existing safety plans will be used again.
Union’s position
The MNA says its members are already among the highest‑paid nurses in the region, but they argue that inflation and rising living costs still affect families. “We recognize that inflation and the cost of living are real concerns for our employees. While these pressures are important, they are not the primary drivers of compensation decisions and must be applied consistently across all roles to ensure fairness and equity,” the hospital’s statement read.
Kelly Morgan, MNA chair and a labor‑and‑delivery nurse at Brigham and Women’s, said the union has made progress on some issues but no final agreement has been reached. “We negotiated from 9 a.m. until just after midnight without reaching a resolution, yet we are ready to resume negotiations any time before November 12 to avert the strike,” Morgan wrote.
What patients can do
Patients with concerns are encouraged to contact their provider or the hospital’s Patient and Family Relations department. Both sides have agreed to keep communication lines open and to prioritize safe patient care throughout the dispute.
Next steps
The two sides were scheduled to meet at noon Wednesday for further talks. If no agreement is reached, the strike will begin Thursday and could continue indefinitely until a contract is signed.
Massachusetts residents and anyone receiving care at Brigham and Women’s are advised to stay informed through official hospital communications and to follow any updates from the MNA.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
