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4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital voted 93% in favor of an open-ended strike — potentially the largest nurses' strike in Massachusetts history. Contract talks with Mass General Brigham have been stalled since August, with nurses pushing for limits on temp staffing, better health benefits, and meaningful wage increases. No strike date has been set yet, but the union must give 10 days' notice before walking out.
Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital have taken a major step toward what could be the largest nurses' strike in Massachusetts history. The Massachusetts Nurses Association announced that roughly 4,000 nurses voted 93% in favor of authorizing an open-ended strike, following months of stalled contract negotiations with parent system Mass General Brigham (MGB). No strike date has been announced yet, but the union is required to give MGB 10 days' notice before walking out.
The dispute centers on several key issues: limits on the use of temporary nurses, more affordable health insurance, and a meaningful cost-of-living wage increase — including a pay differential for nurses who float between units. This follows a one-day awareness strike in July, which was already a record-breaker for the state. MGB, for its part, says it has put forward a "fair and responsible" proposal that preserves competitive compensation while balancing long-term financial sustainability.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: A prolonged open-ended strike at one of the country's most prominent academic medical centers could significantly disrupt patient care in Massachusetts and reignite national conversations about healthcare worker conditions, hospital finances, and the growing tension between clinical workforce needs and executive priorities.
