#USA #Massachusetts #Boston #MGB #Brigham Nurses

Brigham Nurses Seek to Avert Strike While Ensuring Quality Care

On October 8, 2026, the nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) entered negotiations with a focus on reaching a fair contract that prioritizes both patient care and their own working conditions, in light of a scheduled open-ended strike beginning October 14. For over 11 hours, discussions unfolded, with nurses expressing optimism about the potential for agreement.

However, despite nurses' earnest compromises and adjustments to their proposals, Mass General Brigham (MGB) management declined to continue the discussions, effectively stalling the negotiation process. The nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), are committed to finding common ground to ensure a strong permanent nursing workforce while maintaining competitive salaries and affordable health insurance options for all staff.

Substantial Compromises Made

Nurses presented a series of significant counterproposals in response to MGB's management needs, showcasing their willingness to work collaboratively towards a solution. Among their key modifications were:

• - Withdrawing requests for on-call compensation and reductions in severance pay.
• - Lowering their wage increase proposal.
• - Extending the bargaining term from 18 months to 30 months to offer longer-term stability.
• - Adjusting the proposed float differential and limiting qualifying nurses.
• - Raising the cap on temporary nurses from 10% to 15% in each hospital unit, thus creating more flexible staffing options.
• - Accepting higher out-of-pocket health insurance costs for new hires employed on a full-time basis.

Despite these substantial concessions, MGB remained unyielding, refusing to negotiate further unless the nurses accepted their latest offer outright—a move that the nursing staff found unacceptable.

Kelly Morgan, a labor and delivery nurse and Chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee, voiced disappointment at the impasse, emphasizing that the nurses had demonstrated openness to address MGB’s concerns. Morgan stated, “We listened to MGB’s worries and made important compromises because we want to continue caring for our patients at the Brigham. We are prepared to keep working toward a fair agreement, but it seems MGB has halted their efforts.”

The Stakes of the Negotiation

The looming strike is set to proceed until the BWH nurses agree on a contract that addresses the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaints filed against the hospital. These complaints arise from accusations of MGB unlawfully preventing nurses from exercising their rights to strike and retaliating against them for union participation, including altering their schedules and making threats related to union identification.

Broader Goals for Patient Care

The nurses' ultimate aspiration extends beyond their immediate contracts. They seek to build a robust and reliable nursing workforce by limiting reliance on temporary staff, thereby ensuring quality continuity of care for patients. They also demand fair compensation that reflects the rising living costs and economic realities faced by families in Massachusetts, where the average income needed to maintain a middle-class lifestyle has surged nearly 50% from 2020 to 2024.

With Massachusetts's inflation consistently high since 2024, the nurses aim to align their pay rates with those of comparable hospitals in the Boston area, as their competitive wage scales have drastically shifted, with adjacent institutions now offering more favorable compensation packages.

Financial Context of MGB

Mass General Brigham, touted as the wealthiest health system in New England, reported staggering financial figures for Fiscal Year 2025, including:

• - $22.8 billion in operating revenue.
• - $2.39 billion in profits.
• - $1.75 billion in investment income.
• - Total assets amounting to $35.8 billion.

The health system's leadership, which includes high-earning executives such as CEO Anne Klibanski, raises questions about their refusal to meet the nurses’ demands for fair remuneration and working conditions amidst such financial prosperity. Board members include influential figures with vested interests in healthcare, further highlighting the complex dynamics between profit-making and patient care.

Ultimately, the situation reflects a deep divide between MGB’s financial prowess and the nurses' rightful quest for fair treatment and sustainable working conditions. The oath they uphold as caregivers ultimately drives their desire to negotiate not just for themselves, but for the integrity of patient care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

More information can be found at Massachusetts Nurses Association.