Brigham Nurses Face Strike Deadline as Contract Talks Stall

Nurses arrived at the bargaining table October 8 with a list of compromises, including extending the proposed contract term to two and a half years and withdrawing demands for on-call compensation. Kelly Morgan, chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee, stated that the union actively modified its positions to address management’s concerns, only to be met with a refusal to keep the dialogue open. The union remains prepared to negotiate at any time before the strike date, citing a need to address staffing stability and competitive wages.

At the heart of the standoff is a disparity between the hospital system’s financial health and its labor policies. Mass General Brigham, which reported $2.39 billion in profits last year, has faced criticism regarding its executive compensation—including a $9.2 million package for CEO Anne Klibanski—and its board composition. The union has filed multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges against the hospital, alleging that management interfered with the right to participate in previous strikes and restricted union activity. As the October 14 deadline approaches, nurses maintain that the hospital's current resources are sufficient to provide a contract that addresses inflation and aligns with broader Boston hospital market standards.