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Brigham and Women's Nurses Avert Open-Ended Strike with Tentative Contract Deal
Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital reached a last-minute tentative agreement late Wednesday, avoiding what would have been the largest nurses' strike in Massachusetts history. The deal, which still requires union ratification, includes wage increases, staffing protections, and limits on temporary workers.
BOSTON â A planned open-ended strike by nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital was called off late Wednesday night after the Massachusetts Nurses Association and hospital officials reached a tentative contract agreement just hours before picket lines were set to form Thursday morning.
The deal, which still requires a vote by union members, means nurses will report to work as usual. Hospital officials confirmed they will not deploy the more than 800 temporary nurses they had hired and begun training to keep the hospital operating during a walkout.
"I'm incredibly proud of the Brigham nurses who stood strong to protect the world-class patient care we provide," said Kelly Morgan, chair of the nurses' bargaining committee, in a statement. "By standing together, we protected patients and the future of union nursing care at the Brigham."
Union leaders said they will recommend that members ratify the agreement. The MNA represents more than 4,000 nurses at the Brigham, one of Boston's busiest hospitals and part of the Mass General Brigham system. Had the strike proceeded, it would have been the largest in Massachusetts history.
The tentative contract runs for roughly two years, through Sept. 30, 2028. It provides 2.5% annual raises for the most senior nurses, a $1,000 bonus for all other nurses once the contract takes effect, and preserves 5% "step" increases each year for a nurse's first two decades on the job.
The agreement also includes new staffing provisions, including limits on the use of temporary workers and restrictions on "floating" â the practice of assigning nurses to different hospital units rather than their regular department. Union leaders said the deal also cushions the impact of a proposed change to nurses' Harvard Pilgrim health insurance premiums.
Hospital officials said they were pleased with the outcome, describing the agreement as falling within their "last, best and final offer."
"We deeply value our Brigham nurses and believe this agreement recognizes their important contributions while supporting the long-term sustainability of our hospital and our ability to care for our patients and communities," they said in a statement.
The deal caps a year of bitter negotiations that included 29 bargaining sessions. The two sides met for a marathon 15-hour session on Monday and another 10 hours of talks on Wednesday before reaching the agreement.
The dispute had escalated sharply in July, when nurses held a one-day strike and the hospital locked them out for an additional four days. An open-ended strike would have been far more disruptive, threatening prolonged disruptions to patient care across the region.
Throughout the contract fight, the union accused hospital officials of prioritizing executive compensation over investment in bedside staff. Hospital officials countered that nurses are competitively paid, noting that many experienced nurses earn $220,000 a year.
The agreement comes as hospitals nationwide face mounting pressure over staffing levels and working conditions, with nurses' unions arguing that safe staffing ratios are essential to patient safety. The Brigham deal's limits on temporary workers and floating reflect those broader concerns.
Union members are expected to vote on ratification in the coming weeks. If approved, the contract will run through September 2028.