Brigham nurses turned out in record numbers on June 16 to back a potential one-day work stoppage unless MGB leaders agree to safeguard patient care and value nursing staff

/PRNewswire/ -- The close to 4,000 registered nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), delivered a decisive vote on June 16 authorizing a one-day strike. This action follows Mass General Brigham (MGB) leaders making bargaining choices that harm patient safety, hinder nurse retention, and undermine workforce stability over the long term.

This marks the biggest registered nurse strike authorization tally in Massachusetts history. Participation far exceeded earlier Brigham nurse votes on the same question. BWH represents the state's largest single nurse union bargaining unit. The final count showed 2,798 votes in favor and just 12 against.

The authorization comes after more than seven months of talks across 19 sessions. It does not trigger an automatic stoppage. Instead, it empowers the elected BWH MNA Bargaining Committee to call a one-day action if needed to reach a fair agreement. Any strike date would include the required ten-day advance notice. Bargaining resumes June 18.

Authorization follows repeated MGB offers of zero percent raises for nurses not yet at the top pay tier, plans to raise nurses' health premiums, and rejection of measures aimed at hiring and keeping permanent staff at the hospital.

"Brigham nurses have shown remarkable unity in backing patients, the profession, and one another through this vote," said Kelly Morgan, RN, labor and delivery nurse and Chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee. "A strike is not our goal, yet MGB leaders have given nurses few alternatives. Leaders cannot call patient care their chief concern while declining to support the nurses delivering that care daily."

"The outcome makes clear that Brigham nurses stand together and will take necessary steps to defend patient care," said Jim McCarthy, RN, PACU nurse and Vice Chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee. "Nurses hear there are no funds for real raises or reasonable insurance, yet MGB awarded its top 14 leaders 35.9 million dollars in one year. That reveals the organization's true priorities."

Nurses Seek:

A contract that aids hiring and keeping nurses to maintain safe care levels.

MGB still proposes zero percent raises for many nurses amid inflation and rising demand for skilled staff.
Brigham nurses manage some of the region's most complex cases and merit pay that matches their skill and contributions.
Inability to attract and retain seasoned nurses endangers safety and care quality.

Reasonable health coverage and real plan options.

MGB seeks higher health insurance payments from nurses.
Nurses want choices that fit their personal and family health requirements.

Commitment to a stable nursing team.

Nurses want curbs on heavy reliance on temporary travel staff plus steps that improve care continuity.
Consistent staffing boosts outcomes and helps hold onto experienced bedside nurses.

Safeguarding of patient services.

Nurses have flagged MGB moves including shutdown of the Weiner Center, closure of the Brigham Burn Unit, and cuts to the Integrated Care Management Program.
These steps show a pattern of favoring system finances over care at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

MGB Leaders Earn Millions

While Brigham nurses seek basic support for specialized care, MGB's top executives collected a combined 35.9 million dollars in pay during fiscal year 2024.

Rank	Executive	Title	FY 2024 Compensation
1	Dr. Anne Klibanski	Chief Executive Officer	$8,407,816
2	John Barker	Former Chief Investment Officer	$3,536,715
3	Dr. Ron Walls	Chief Operating Officer	$3,210,922
4	Gregg Meyer	President, Community Division	$2,844,616
5	Elizabeth Baldwin	Portfolio Manager	$2,349,621
6	Niyum Gandhi	Chief Financial Officer	$2,323,582
7	Katherine Kamm	Portfolio Manager	$2,312,996
8	Laura Peabody	Chief Legal Officer	$1,906,911
9	Jane Moran	Chief Information & Digital Officer	$1,744,085
10	O'Neil Britton	Associate Chief Operating Officer	$1,640,117
11	Jeff Weiss	Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer	$1,557,478
12	Thomas Sequist	Chief Medical Officer	$1,494,854
13	Rosemary Sheehan	Former Chief Human Resources Officer	$1,427,319
14	Emma Somers-Roy	Chief Investment Officer	$1,238,835
Total	$35.9 Million

At the same time nurses receive zero percent offers, MGB lists a Chief Nursing Executive role with pay between 750,000 and 950,000 dollars and a CNO post at MGH near 600,000 dollars.

Despite federal Medicaid pressures on hospitals, MGB posted solid results. A STAT News report from December noted Mass General Brigham recorded a 59.2 million dollar operating gain for the year ending in September, a 0.3 percent margin, up from a 45.7 million dollar gain the prior year. Combined with investment returns, the system achieved a 2.4 billion dollar net margin, following 2 billion dollars the year before.

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Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in Massachusetts. Its 26,000 members promote high nursing standards, advance nurses' workplace interests, present an accurate view of the profession, and advocate before lawmakers and agencies on health issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association