Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses postpone strike to vote on final offer

Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have postponed a planned indefinite strike to vote on a “last, best and final offer” from the hospital. The decision follows a marathon 13-hour negotiating session on Saturday, occurring just days before the union was scheduled to walk out on Wednesday.

The proposed contract, which would remain in effect until September 30, focuses on wages and health insurance. Under the terms, nurses would continue to receive 5% step raises for each of their first 20 years of employment.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) stated that the postponement allows the 4,000 union members to engage in a democratic process to evaluate if the offer sufficiently addresses their core concerns. While the hospital expressed gratitude for the withdrawal of the strike notice, the union noted that parent company Mass General Brigham has “continued to refuse to provide cost of living wage increases,” a move they claim is intended to weaken the union.

This follows a period of significant labor tension at the facility, including a one-day strike in July that was followed by a four-day lockout, marking the largest nurses strike in Massachusetts history.