Nurses at Brigham Women's Hospital Will Not Strike

Tentative deal reached between hospital, nurses

Brigham and Women's Hospital reached a deal Sunday with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, averting a strike.

According to Brigham and Women's Hospital, after 23 negotiation sessions, the hospital and the MNA reached a tentative agreement on a nursing contract early Sunday morning.

"We are extremely pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement with the MNA and that the strike notice has been rescinded," said the president of the Brigham and Women's Health Care, Betsy Nabel, M.D.

The final agreement allows the hospital to remain within the financial objectives it established and to achieve a 3-year agreement. The contract will now be taken back to the nurses for a vote before being finalized.

"This is a huge victory for Brigham patients and the practice of nursing," said Trish Powers, RN OR, a staff nurse and the chair of the MNA BWH bargaining unit. "The ultimate credit for this settlement goes to the 3,300 MNA nurses of Brigham & Women's Hospital. Brigham nurses stood together and were ready to hold a historic one-day strike for their patients, for our community and for the Brigham way of excellent and safe patient care."

Powers further added that security was the nurses' priority upon entering the negotiations.

"We are especially proud to have significantly improved security at the hospital for everyone," she said.

The Nurses Association says their members will likely vote on the tentative contract within the news two weeks.

Dr. Nabel thanked her negotiation team and the entire Brigham family for their commitment and dedication, saying, "the last few weeks have been difficult for everyone involved, and this news enables us to mvoe forward together as a community and continue to provide superb care to our patients tha the Brigham is known for. We will work with out clinical and administrative leaders to resume normal operations immediately."

Contact Us