#United States #Boston #MNA #Mass General #MGB Home Care

MNA Clinicians Picket at Mass General Hospital

On March 24, 2026, clinicians from MGB Home Care, under the banner of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), organized an informational picket outside Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). This action aimed at calling Mass General Brigham (MGB) to negotiate a fair initial contract that appropriately acknowledges the essential services the clinicians provide to patients in their homes.

Around 450 clinicians have been in negotiations for a union contract since March 2025, having participated in over 20 negotiation sessions since that time. Despite MGB's substantial financial gains, which included a reported $59.2 million operating profit for the year ending September 2025, the organization has consistently offered unsatisfactory wage proposals and refused to implement necessary protective measures for the clinicians on the frontlines of patient care.

Shannon Viera, a registered nurse at MGB Home Care and chair of the MNA, highlighted the challenges faced daily by clinicians: "Our patients rely on us for the increasingly complex care needed at home. But MGB’s upper management has not met the needs posed by this heightened acuity or agreed upon foundational standards to help us deliver safe and effective care."

The picketing team represented a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, dieticians, and speech-language pathologists, who voted to join the MNA in June 2024. They stand alongside several newly organized units within MGB's network, including those from MGB Home Hospital, MGB Occupational Health Services, and Advanced Practice Providers from the MGB Cancer Institute. The MNA presently counts around 7,000 nurses and healthcare professionals affiliated with hospitals in the MGB system.

Details of the Picket

Date: March 24, 2026
Time: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Outside Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge Street at North Grove intersection, Boston, MA

The picket was intended to be an informational demonstration, not a strike, inviting support from community members alongside family and friends of the clinicians. It carried a message reinforcing the critical nature of home care services: "Our clinicians empower patients to recover and manage illnesses effectively while allowing them to remain in the comfort of their own homes," explained Kara Wilson, an occupational therapist and member of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "A fair contract would enable us to not only retain but attract clinicians that are essential for providing high-quality care."

Clinicians' Demands

The MNA seeks several key provisions from the proposed contract:
1. Reasonable Caseload Limits: Addressing the needs of patients while ensuring clinicians do not face overwhelming workloads that compromise care quality.
2. Clear Productivity Standards: Establishing transparent metrics to recognize the time and effort necessary for effective patient management and documentation.
3. Recruitment and Retention Protections: Creating conditions conducive to attracting and keeping skilled professionals in home care.
4. Competitive Wages: Securing compensation that accurately reflects the vital role nurses play in complex home care.

Financial Context at MGB

While many hospital systems across Massachusetts are facing financial difficulties, MGB has posted a profitable year, evidently enhancing its financial standing with a recorded operating profit of $59.2 million, an increase from the previous year. The total net income amounted to a staggering $2.4 billion. Based on reports, MGB's CEO, Dr. Anne Klibanski, has seen her compensation rise significantly, earning $6 million in 2023, which soared to $8.4 million in 2024—a staggering 40% increase.

Over the five-year span from 2018 to 2023, MGB executives reportedly received a total of $819 million in salaries, alongside $100 million in bonuses.

In summary, as MGB Home Care clinicians take their stand outside Massachusetts General Hospital, they emphasize a core message: the importance of fair wages, adequate support, and strict standards to ensure that quality patient care remains a top priority. As the negotiations proceed, the commitment of clinicians to advocate for better working conditions continues to shape the future of home care in Massachusetts.

Support the Clinicians

For further updates and to join in supporting the MNA's efforts, you may visit their official platforms on social media or their website.