Overview
- Negotiations between Brigham nurses and Mass General Brigham ended after more than 11 hours on Thursday without an agreement, and the parties did not schedule further talks before the Oct. 14 strike date.
- About 4,000 nurses authorized an open‑ended strike that will begin Oct. 14 unless a deal is reached, and the union says it is still willing to keep negotiating to avert a walkout.
- The dispute centers on across‑the‑board cost‑of‑living wage increases, more affordable health‑insurance choices, and limits on the use of temporary travel nurses to protect continuity of care.
- Mass General Brigham plans to bring roughly 1,600 to 2,000 temporary nurses, will have daily state Department of Public Health oversight, and expects a brief pause in new admissions to allow staff transitions.
- The union has filed unfair labor practice charges and a complaint with the state attorney general while state leaders have urged both sides to return to the bargaining table because a strike could disrupt patient access and raise operating costs.