#United States #Foxborough #Mass Nurses Association #Dana-Farber Nurses

Nurses at Dana-Farber Foxborough Demand Fair Wages

On November 13, 2025, nurses at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Foxborough are set to hold an informational picket outside Patriot Place as the New England Patriots take on the New York Jets. The protest aims to address significant wage disparities that nurses experience in comparison to their counterparts at Mass General Brigham, who work in the same facility.

This demonstration will take place from 5 PM to 6:30 PM, just ahead of the 8:15 PM football game. Organized by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), the nurses emphasize their dedication to delivering top-tier patient care and are urging DFCI management to rectify what they describe as an 'unacceptable' pay gap.

Background of the Picket

The call for action follows a formal letter sent in October to Josh Bekenstein, Chair of the Dana-Farber Board of Trustees, which was signed by every nurse at the Foxborough location. In this letter, they expressed concerns about the unjust wage difference that exists, indicating that it undermines their contribution to patient care and job satisfaction.

Catherine Hulme, a registered nurse at DFCI Foxborough and Co-Chair of the MNA Committee, explained, ‘Nurses at Foxborough deliver the same exceptional, lifesaving care that patients expect from Dana-Farber anywhere in Massachusetts, yet they are compensated significantly less than their peers working in the same building. All we want is to level the playing field.’

Roles and Responsibilities

The nurses at the Foxborough facility perform complex work, including administering sophisticated chemotherapy regimens and providing detailed patient education. They assist with various responsibilities that are not typically managed by nurses in other locations, such as rotating into the lab and handling higher patient-nurse ratios compared to hospitals in Boston.

Nicole Maguire, another RN and Secretary of the MNA Committee, stated, ‘Our patients deserve nurses who are valued and treated with respect by Dana-Farber. Our care is supposedly identical across campuses, but the disparity in pay tells a different story.’ The nurses believe that addressing this financial inequity is essential for sustaining their morale and ensuring available quality care for patients.

The Importance of Equity

The nurses assert that their roles require a sophisticated understanding of oncology and hematology, given that they manage multiple treatment regimens and provide comprehensive care. For example, they are responsible for managing various complex chemotherapy protocols and conducting educational sessions specific to each medication administered. This expertise is crucial, especially considering that DFCI would soon need to recruit an additional hundreds of oncology nurses for a forthcoming cancer hospital alongside Beth Israel Deaconess, where offering competitive wages is paramount to attract top talent.

In light of these relevant discussions, the DFCI Foxborough nurses are determined to ensure their voices are heard, initiating significant change in the landscape of medical compensation within their institution. Their stand on November 13 could mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for fair wages in healthcare and highlights the crucial role that all nursing professionals play in maintaining a high standard of patient care throughout Massachusetts.

Conclusion

As this situation unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor how Dana-Farber responds to the nurses’ demands and whether they will take concrete steps to resolve the disparities that exist. The picket on November 13 serves not only as a rallying point for the nurses themselves but also as an essential opportunity for the broader community to support those who provide indispensable medical services.