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Brigham and Women’s nurses reach tentative agreement with hospital, likely averting strike

The agreement promises to pay nurses a higher wage and improve patient safety.

Brigham and Women's Hospital was one of several Massachusetts medical centers recognized by Tuesday's report.

August 9, 2024

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Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses reached a tentative contract agreement on Thursday, averting a strike.

“Brigham nurses have demonstrated the power of union solidarity!” said Massachusetts Nurses Association Chair Kelly Morgan, a Brigham labor and delivery nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a statement. “When we fight alongside our colleagues for our patients and our nursing practice, we win.”

As outlined in a press release from the Massachusetts Nurses Association, nurses will receive a 20% to 30% increase in pay over 2 1/2 years, depending on their position on the wage scale.

The new agreement will also give nurses health insurance choices and increase pay for charge nurse and on-call duties.

Additionally, the agreement will help improve hospital security through annual safety training and facility risk assessment, and designate a senior manager responsible for supporting employee victims of workplace violence.

“We are so pleased to have come to an agreement with the Massachusetts Nursing Association on a new contract that recognizes the tremendous care our nurses provide each and every day to our patients and their families and reflects important agreements on issues critical to all of us, particularly in the area of workplace safety,” said Kevin Giordano, chief operating officer for Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a statement.

The nurses reached the agreement following a successful strike authorization vote on July 24. Brigham nurses voted 2,507 yes to 16 no.

The vote to authorize the one-day strike followed an informational picket, involvement by a federal mediator, and 29 bargaining sessions over 11 months.

Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital also voted to authorize a one-day strike, though it is not yet scheduled.

“(Mass General Brigham) executives did not want to provide such a significant settlement, but nurses held strong and won a huge victory through determination and solidarity,” said Massachusetts Nurses Association Vice Chair Jim McCarthy, a nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a statement. “Our patients will benefit from this agreement because a better valued nurse workforce means improved staffing levels and safer care.”