Brigham nurses and MGB Home Care clinicians stand ready to continue talks until a resolution is reached to prevent a strike; MGB showed no indication of shifting positions during the meeting with the Governor's Office.

Less than two days before the largest nurse and healthcare professional strike in state history, Governor Maura Healey brought together representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Mass General Brigham at her State House office on Monday afternoon. The group discussed the bargaining stances of Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses and MGB Home Care clinicians ahead of planned walkouts on Wednesday.

Nurse and clinician representatives voiced a clear readiness to pursue compromise through further negotiations to avert the strikes. MNA officials noted that elected bargaining teams are prepared to meet Tuesday morning and work through the night if needed. MGB leaders at the session gave no sign of adjusting from earlier positions.

"Our 4,000 Brigham nurses are prepared to keep negotiating to prevent a strike, yet MGB has stated at the table that they will not improve their 0 percent offer or address critical matters such as health insurance and limits on temporary staff," said Kelly Morgan, RN, Chair of the Brigham MNA Bargaining Committee. "MGB's stance shows little respect for the nurses who deliver care amid very difficult and unsafe conditions."

"Our 450 MGB Home Care clinicians have explored every avenue to secure a fair first contract without a strike," said Shannon Viera, RN, MGB Home Care MNA Bargaining Committee Chair. "We value Governor Healey's effort to convene this meeting, but we see no movement from MGB toward an agreement before our action begins. Our clinicians will stand together for seven days starting July 8 to safeguard patient care and our profession."

MEDIA INFORMATION

On Wednesday, July 8, all media are encouraged to visit both strike sites at the locations below. For interview requests, contact Joe Markman at 781-571-8175.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Primary Media Location)
75 Francis Street, Boston
Best times: 7am when the strike starts, 12pm rally

MGB Home Care (Primary Media Location)
Braintree Hill Office Park, 45 Rockdale St., Suite 100, Braintree MA (clinicians to picket at main intersection at bottom of the office park)
Best times: 8am when strike starts and throughout the day
Contact Jen Johnson at the MNA office.

Additional strike locations, schedules, media advisories, background materials, photos, social media, and updates are available at www.massnurses.org/MGB.

Click here for a statement on the Brigham nurses sending a letter to the MGB Board of Directors.

Last week, both Brigham nurses and MGB Home Care clinicians held their final scheduled bargaining sessions. At both tables, the nurses and clinicians offered meaningful compromises and proposed continued talks to avoid a strike. MGB declined to improve its proposals and turned down further bargaining opportunities.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.MASSNURSES.ORG/MGB

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Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 26,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association