MGB Home Care clinicians continue striking through Tuesday and will conclude with a rally at MGB headquarters as caregivers urge Mass General Brigham to negotiate sincerely

/PRNewswire/ - More than 4,000 registered nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital returned to their patients at 6:59 a.m. Monday morning. This action ended the largest nurse strike and lockout in Massachusetts history after a strong solidarity walk into the facility once Mass General Brigham's four-day lockout finished.

Although Brigham nurses are back on the job, their contract battle continues. Nurses will keep urging the billionaires on the MGB Board of Directors and its multi-millionaire executives to reach a fair deal that values nurses, boosts recruitment and retention, and safeguards patient care quality at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

About 450 MGB Home Care clinicians stay on strike through Tuesday while pursuing their first union contract. Their seven-day strike will wrap up with a public rally Tuesday afternoon outside MGB Headquarters in Assembly Row.

"Today we walked back into the Brigham together with our heads held high because we never stopped fighting for our patients," said Kelly Morgan, RN, Chair of the Brigham and Women's Hospital MNA Bargaining Committee. "This strike and lockout grew far larger than any single hospital. Tens of millions of people worldwide followed our fight on television and social media. We thank every nurse, healthcare worker, elected official, patient, labor union, and community member who supported us. Your backing helped us through one of the most intense periods in Massachusetts nursing history."

"Now the responsibility rests with Mass General Brigham's board member billionaires and multi-millionaire executives," Morgan added. "MGB must acknowledge what this movement represents and return to bargaining ready to negotiate in good faith. The world will continue watching. If MGB declines to bargain seriously, Brigham nurses will carry on this effort with the same resolve shown during our first strike and MGB's four-day lockout. We will persist until nurses receive the respect we deserve and obtain a contract that ensures safe, high-quality patient care."

MGB Home Care End-of-Strike Rally

While Brigham nurses have returned following the lockout, MGB Home Care clinicians remain on strike through Tuesday.

Media Event: Tuesday, July 14, 2 p.m.

End-of-Strike Rally
MGB Headquarters - Assembly Row
399 Revolution Dr.
Somerville, MA

Home care clinicians will be joined by Brigham nurses, elected officials, labor leaders, and community supporters to mark the end of the seven-day strike and renew their commitment to securing a strong first contract.

Historic Campaign Continues

The Brigham nurses' one-day strike and four-day employer lockout became one of the most closely watched labor disputes in healthcare. It drew broad local, national, and international media attention and reached tens of millions via television and social media.

Throughout the strike and lockout, Brigham nurses gained backing from elected officials, fellow healthcare workers, labor unions, patients, and community groups across Massachusetts and beyond. This strong support has reinforced nurses' determination to win a contract that protects both caregivers and patients.

Despite returning to work, Brigham nurses still lack a contract agreement after eight months of bargaining in which MGB has not fully addressed key issues tied to recruitment, retention, and patient care.

Meanwhile, MGB Home Care clinicians continue seeking their first union contract after more than a year of talks.

Brigham Nurses Continue Seeking

A contract that improves recruitment and retention to strengthen patient care.
Competitive wage increases after months of proposals from MGB that have included 0% cost of living wage increases.
Affordable health insurance (no proposed MGB cost hike) and insurance choice.
Greater investment in permanent nurses rather than reliance on temporary staffing. Limitations on the use of temporary nurses.
Protection of patient care services and investments in frontline caregivers.

MGB Home Care Clinicians Continue Seeking

Safe, reasonable caseloads.
Clear and enforceable productivity standards.
Competitive wages that support recruitment and retention.
A fair first union contract that recognizes the essential care clinicians provide to patients throughout eastern Massachusetts.

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Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 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