#United States #Boston #Mass General Brigham #Nurses Association #Union Vote

Mass General Brigham Nurses Demand Action

On November 18, 2025, nurses and nurse practitioners from Mass General Brigham (MGB) Occupation Health Services made their voices heard by addressing the MGB Board. Represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), they sent a formal request to Board Chair Scott M. Sperling, urging him to respect their democratic decision to unionize and to commence contract negotiations promptly.

This call to action comes after an impressive 91% of MGB Occupational Health clinicians voted in favor of joining the MNA earlier this year. The overwhelming majority reflects a strong collective desire for improved standards in patient care and workplace safety. Surprisingly, despite this decisive vote, MGB has refrained from acknowledging the union and has stalled the negotiation process, allegedly exploiting dysfunction at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to obstruct and suppress the workers' voices.

In their letter, the nurses and nurse practitioners expressed their commitment to fostering health and safety not just for themselves but for the entire MGB workforce. They highlighted that MGB leadership's failure to engage in conversations not only disrespects their rights as employees but also undermines foundational occupational health services essential for protecting all caregivers within the system.

Maria Dolores, RN, who also goes by Ginger Medina and chairs the MGB Occupational Health MNA Bargaining Unit, emphasized the clinicians' focus on collaboration and equality. Dolores stated, "We take pride in our daily work to ensure the health and safety of MGB's caregivers. Our decision to unionize is a clear message—we want to collaborate with leadership on strengthening this mission. Each day that MGB delays acknowledging our union is another missed opportunity to enhance the health infrastructure vital to our work. Respecting our democratic choice is key to building a healthier and more sustainable workplace for everyone involved."

The Occupational Health nurses and nurse practitioners at MGB play a crucial role in maintaining safety within the healthcare system, managing workplace injuries, ensuring adherence to public health protocols, and more. With this in mind, they are vigorously appealing to the MGB Board of Directors to instruct management to halt all delay tactics and initiate good-faith negotiations immediately.

The appeal concluded with a vital reminder: “Recognizing and negotiating with our union is not merely a question of fairness; it is a fundamental responsibility that MGB management owes to every patient entering this hospital system.”

The Massachusetts Nurses Association has been advocating for nursing professionals since 1903, representing over 26,000 registered nurses in Massachusetts. Their efforts aim not only to enhance nursing standards but also to champion the economic welfare of nurses while promoting public health issues.

As this situation unfolds, it highlights the broader struggles of healthcare workers seeking recognition and respect within their work environments, emphasizing the importance of collective bargaining in maintaining high standards of care and safety in healthcare settings.