Brigham and Women’s Hospital Nurses Announce Strike Date

Registered nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), have issued a notice for an open-ended strike starting November 12. The move follows the rejection of the latest contract proposal from hospital operator Mass General Brigham (MGB), which the union characterized as insufficient to address patient safety and staffing concerns.

The bargaining committee, representing over 4,000 nurses, is seeking contract terms that limit reliance on temporary agency staff and establish more stable patient assignments. According to the union, these measures are essential to ensuring continuity of care and improving long-term recruitment and retention at the facility.

While a strike is set for mid-November, the parties are scheduled to return to the negotiating table on November 9. Kelly Morgan, chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee, stated that the union remains open to reaching a settlement that prioritizes patient care and professional standards, thereby avoiding the labor action.

This labor dispute occurs against the backdrop of broader scrutiny regarding Mass General Brigham’s fiscal practices. The MNA has previously requested an investigation into the non-profit healthcare system's executive compensation and potential conflicts of interest, arguing that the system’s substantial financial surpluses should be more directly reinvested into frontline clinical operations.