#United States
#Healthcare Quality
#Plymouth
#Massachusetts Nurses Association
#Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
BID Plymouth Nurses Secure Historic Contract To Enhance Patient Care Standards
On June 4, 2025, the registered nurses of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (BID Plymouth), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, made headlines after overwhelmingly voting in favor (with a stunning nine to one ratio) to ratify a new three-year contract. This groundbreaking deal is anticipated to significantly bolster staffing levels, wages, and benefits, establishing more favorable conditions for recruitment and retention of nursing staff. The ultimate goal is to assure the provision of safe patient care in the hospital.
The negotiation phase for this contract spanned eight months, beginning with the first session held on October 3, 2024. Earlier this year, tensions reached a peak when nurses voted on March 20 to authorize a three-day strike, spurring the employer into action. This led to a series of negotiations that culminated in a tentative agreement on May 15, 2025. The contract, which takes effect from January 1, 2025, and runs through December 31, 2027, reflects the dedication and solidarity of the nursing staff and the invaluable support from the community.
"We are both thrilled and proud to have achieved a contract that addresses what we believe is essential to ensure we can provide the quality care this community expects and deserves," stated Liz Taylor, RN, co-chair of the local bargaining unit with the MNA. Taylor expressed gratitude for the community’s backing during the negotiation process, further amplifying the nurses' stand for patient safety and dignity.
1. Salary Increases: The new agreement stipulates substantial wage increases ranging from 13% to 27%, with an average hike of 21% based on years of service. Additionally, salary adjustments will be retroactive to January 2025. The BID Plymouth nurses, previously among the lowest-paid in the region, can now anticipate improved compensation, aligning their salary scales with the market to mitigate staffing losses to better-paying facilities.
2. Enhanced Staffing Practices: One of the primary concerns throughout the negotiation was staffing levels, which often hindered the nurses' ability to provide quality care. As part of the new contract, there are guaranteed staffing grids that restrict the number of patients assigned to each nurse, ensuring compliance with professional care standards, especially in sensitive areas like maternity and post-anesthesia care units.
3. Protection Against Overtime and Nurse Floating: The contract introduces robust protections against mandatory overtime, prohibiting its use except during state or nationally declared emergencies. Furthermore, it prevents the floating of nurses across units, creating a dedicated float pool to address unexpected staffing shortages.
4. Maintaining Existing Benefits: Ultimately, the nurses successfully retained their current holiday entitlements, even gaining additional personal days. They will also sustain their health insurance benefits without incurring increased costs, defeating previous proposals to cut insurance benefits and holiday allowances.
The contract reflects not only a victory for the nurses at BID Plymouth but also a crucial step towards ensuring safer patient care through improved working conditions and proper staffing levels. As the nurses look ahead, they remain focused on collaboration with the administration to foster a positive future for both the hospital and the community it serves. The collective agreement stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through determination and unity, setting an example in the healthcare industry for others to follow.
The negotiation phase for this contract spanned eight months, beginning with the first session held on October 3, 2024. Earlier this year, tensions reached a peak when nurses voted on March 20 to authorize a three-day strike, spurring the employer into action. This led to a series of negotiations that culminated in a tentative agreement on May 15, 2025. The contract, which takes effect from January 1, 2025, and runs through December 31, 2027, reflects the dedication and solidarity of the nursing staff and the invaluable support from the community.
"We are both thrilled and proud to have achieved a contract that addresses what we believe is essential to ensure we can provide the quality care this community expects and deserves," stated Liz Taylor, RN, co-chair of the local bargaining unit with the MNA. Taylor expressed gratitude for the community’s backing during the negotiation process, further amplifying the nurses' stand for patient safety and dignity.
Key Highlights of the New Contract
1. Salary Increases: The new agreement stipulates substantial wage increases ranging from 13% to 27%, with an average hike of 21% based on years of service. Additionally, salary adjustments will be retroactive to January 2025. The BID Plymouth nurses, previously among the lowest-paid in the region, can now anticipate improved compensation, aligning their salary scales with the market to mitigate staffing losses to better-paying facilities.
2. Enhanced Staffing Practices: One of the primary concerns throughout the negotiation was staffing levels, which often hindered the nurses' ability to provide quality care. As part of the new contract, there are guaranteed staffing grids that restrict the number of patients assigned to each nurse, ensuring compliance with professional care standards, especially in sensitive areas like maternity and post-anesthesia care units.
3. Protection Against Overtime and Nurse Floating: The contract introduces robust protections against mandatory overtime, prohibiting its use except during state or nationally declared emergencies. Furthermore, it prevents the floating of nurses across units, creating a dedicated float pool to address unexpected staffing shortages.
4. Maintaining Existing Benefits: Ultimately, the nurses successfully retained their current holiday entitlements, even gaining additional personal days. They will also sustain their health insurance benefits without incurring increased costs, defeating previous proposals to cut insurance benefits and holiday allowances.
The contract reflects not only a victory for the nurses at BID Plymouth but also a crucial step towards ensuring safer patient care through improved working conditions and proper staffing levels. As the nurses look ahead, they remain focused on collaboration with the administration to foster a positive future for both the hospital and the community it serves. The collective agreement stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through determination and unity, setting an example in the healthcare industry for others to follow.
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