Cooley Dickinson Hospital Nurses to Hold Critical Picket for Patient Care and Fair Wages

Cooley Dickinson Nurses Plan Informational Picket on June 3

The registered nurses at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, under the umbrella of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), have announced an informational picket scheduled for June 3, 2025. This action is taken to highlight significant concerns regarding insufficient investments from hospital owner Mass General Brigham (MGB) amidst ongoing contract negotiations.

This demonstration, set to occur from 2 PM to 5 PM outside the hospital's location at 30 Locust St., Northampton, is poised to draw attention to critical issues that directly impact patient care and the nursing workforce. During this time, nurses who are off duty or on break will be joined by family, friends, and community members in solidarity to uphold the standards of quality care and the longevity of their local hospital.

Context of the Picket

In their public statements, Cooley Dickinson nurses have been vocal about the challenges they face, including threats to patient safety, wage stagnation, and proposed cuts to employee benefits. According to Rosie Tottser, a Cooley Dickinson RN and MNA committee co-chair, the refusal of MGB to address unsafe staffing levels has a direct negative impact on both patients and nurses, compromising the quality of care delivered.

Moreover, as MGB continues to pursue major financial maneuvers, such as investing over $2 billion in expansion projects for Massachusetts General Hospital while presenting cuts for frontline caregivers in Western Massachusetts, nurses feel neglected and undervalued. Aaron Winston, also a Cooley Dickinson RN and MNA committee co-chair, emphasized the need for MGB to demonstrate genuine commitment towards the workforce just as they do towards funding high-cost projects.

Demands from the Nurses

The nursing staff demands are clear and crucial to their functioning:
1. Competitive Wages: Unlike many regional hospitals, Cooley RNs have not received any wage proposal from MGB, a situation that threatens recruitment and retention, ultimately endangering patient safety.

2. Safe Staffing Guarantees: To protect both patients and nurses from burnout, enforceable staffing improvements are essential, yet the hospital management has not adequately addressed these staffing concerns.

3. Protection of Employee Benefits: There are alarming proposals from MGB seeking to classify some nurses as part-time staff, which would remove full-time health coverage, resulting in greater out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

4. Long-Term Commitment: Years of underinvestment have led to doubts among nurses and community members about MGB's dedication to Cooley Dickinson being a true community hospital in the future.

Background on MGB's Financials

The financial backdrop of MGB presents a stark contrast to the challenges its nurses are facing. For instance, the CEO of MGB reportedly earned over $6 million in a single year while the system disclosed an operating revenue of $20.6 billion in 2024. Specifically, Cooley Dickinson brought in roughly $9.7 million in profit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. In total, the MGB system has experienced significant financial growth, including a nearly $2 billion increase in the year ending September 2024.

Given this financial context, the nursing staff is particularly aggrieved by the disparity between executive compensation and their own stagnant wages alongside proposed cuts during contract negotiations.

The Need for Community Support

As the June 3 informational picket approaches, the message from Cooley Dickinson’s nurses is simple yet profound: they are advocating not just for their welfare but for that of the patients, the community, and the future of healthcare in their region. The Cooley Dickinson nurses invite the public to stand with them as they demand not only better compensation but also a truly sustainable healthcare system that prioritizes staff and patient well-being. Through collective action, they hope to encourage MGB to reconsider its approach and foster a more supportive environment for everyone involved.

In solidarity, they aim to underscore the importance of investing in healthcare workers as a fundamental component of providing quality patient care, signaling that the local hospital community deserves a commitment from their healthcare leaders.

As this event draws near, the passionate voices of nurses advocating for change resonate beyond the walls of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, emphasizing that patient safety and quality care must always come first.