Brigham and Women’s Nurses Set Date for Historic Open-Ended Strike

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) filed the required 10-day notice on October 2, framing the action as an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike. The union cites a pattern of retaliatory behavior from management, including alleged interference with union participation, schedule changes targeting activists, and threats against staff wearing union insignia. This escalation follows a September 24 vote where 2,986 nurses supported the walkout, the highest turnout for a strike authorization in the state's history.

At the core of the dispute is a fundamental disagreement over resource allocation. While Mass General Brigham reported $2.39 billion in profits and $22.8 billion in operating revenue for fiscal year 2025, nurses argue that management has refused to engage in meaningful bargaining. The hospital system has countered with demands for a multi-year pay freeze, a condition the MNA leadership rejects as a bad-faith barrier to progress. The union is pushing for improved staffing stability, affordable health insurance, and wage increases that account for the rising cost of living in Massachusetts.

Kelly Morgan, chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee, noted that nurses have offered to meet daily to avoid a second strike, but management remains resistant. The MNA has also raised concerns regarding the composition of the MGB Board of Directors, which includes private equity executives and CEOs with overlapping business interests. With the October 14 deadline approaching, the strike is set to continue until both parties secure a contract that addresses the nurses' demands for patient care protections and workforce stability.