Overview
- About 70 percent of members voted and the Massachusetts Nurses Association reported 2,798 to 12 in favor of authorizing a one-day strike on Tuesday.
- The authorization lets the Brigham MNA bargaining committee schedule a one-day walkout but requires the union to give the hospital a legally mandated 10-day notice before nurses can strike.
- Nurses say talks have stalled over cost-of-living increases, the annual step pay structure and proposed higher health insurance contributions after 19 bargaining sessions on an 18-month contract.
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital said it values its nurses and has proposed annual 5 percent step increases plus top-of-scale raises while saying it is prepared to maintain safe patient care during any action.
- The MNA represents about 4,000 Brigham nurses, has cited Mass General Brigham executive pay of roughly $35.9 million for the top 14 leaders, and has a next bargaining session scheduled for June 18.