Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Another Mass. hospital faces potential one-day nurses strike
Nurses at Newton-Wellsley Hospital claim the hospital is raising healthcare costs for its benefit.
Nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a one-day strike as part of ongoing contract negotiations with the Mass General Brigham hospital system.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, representing around 1,500 nurses at the hospital, said 99% of members voted in favor during an informational picket on Tuesday.
The successful vote does not mean a strike will take place. Based on how management proceeds in negotiations following the vote, the nurse’s bargaining committee will schedule a strike only if necessary.
If a strike is scheduled, the committee has to provide at least 10 days’ notice.
The nurses are fighting for a contract that helps ensure safe patient care while thwarting “Mass General Brigham’s attempt to boost its profits” by increasing the nurses’ health insurance costs, which would directly benefit the hospital system, they said.
Advertisement:
According to the union, Mass General Brigham is self-insured, which means it funds its own health insurance plan and collects revenue. Therefore, the union said that nurses using Mass General Brigham health insurance to receive care from Mass General Hospital providers are directly contributing to the hospital’s profits.
In an August 2024 statement, the hospital reported a $563 million, or 9%, increase in health plan premium revenue.
“Newton-Wellesley Hospital nurses came out in force today to authorize a potential strike in response to (Mass General Brigham’s) disrespect to nurses at the bargaining table,” said Kathy Reda, Newtown-Wellsely Hospital RN and co-chair of the Bargaining Committee, in a statement.
Advertisement:
“Mass General Brigham has the resources to ensure Newton-Wellesley nurses can affordably access healthcare,” she continued. “We call on (Mass General Brigham) to agree to a fair contract that allows us to continue to provide high-quality patient care.”
A spokesperson told the Boston Globe that the hospital has been negotiating with the Massachusetts Nurses Association since March and has participated in 15 negotiation sessions. The negotiations have led to a considerable wage increase for the nurses.
Mass General Brigham did not immediately respond with additional comment by publication.
The hospital follows in the footsteps of another hospital system, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. The nurses at that hospital also threatened to go on strike during contract talks, but ultimately backed down after the hospital agreed to wage increases over the next three years.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com