Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses in Boston ended a one-day strike Thursday but faced a four-day lockout, keeping 4,000 union members out of the facility. Hundreds of nurses walked off the picket line at 7 a.m. after 24 hours of protesting for better pay, only to be turned away when they attempted to re-enter the hospital, according to lead union negotiator Kelly Morgan.
Strike Ends, Lockout Begins
The one-day strike concluded Thursday morning, but the hospital initiated a four-day lockout, preventing nurses from returning to work. Hundreds of nurses had walked off the job at 7 a.m., marking the end of their 24-hour protest over compensation. When they approached the hospital entrance chanting “let us in!” they were denied entry, prompting them to resume picketing outside the Francis Street campus.
Morgan described the outcome as “defeating and demoralizing,” emphasizing the nurses’ desire to care for patients. “We only wanted to do this for 24 hours. We want to be in there and take care of our patients,” she said.
Lockout Linked to Replacement Staff
Mass General Brigham (MGB), which owns the hospital, hired nearly 1,300 replacement nurses to cover shifts for five days, extending the lockout for four additional days. The hospital stated that the replacement staff’s five-day contracts necessitated the extended lockout. MGB claimed the temporary nurses “are providing great care to our patients” and that “the safety of care has been equivalent or better than the usual Brigham performance.”
This dispute represents the largest health care strike in Massachusetts history, with MGB negotiating separate contracts for 4,000 hospital nurses and nearly 500 home health workers. The latter group’s week-long strike is set to end on July 15.
Pay Dispute and Failed Negotiations
The union alleges that MGB offered zero-percent raises to base salaries despite rising living costs in Boston. The hospital countered that nurses receive annual five-percent raises tied to seniority, calling their pay “competitive.” Both parties met with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey but failed to reach a resolution.
MGB reiterated that the hospital remains “open and fully operational,” urging patients to attend scheduled appointments unless notified otherwise.
Patient and Public Support
Warren Carter, a patient at Brigham and Women’s, left his hospital bed to show support for the locked-out nurses, stating, “I believe the nurses are one of those classes of citizens and workers who are perpetually underpaid.” Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphy’s also visited the picket line, declaring, “Pay these people what they deserve.”
Emergency Response Dispute
A disagreement arose over a medical emergency handled outside the hospital. Lead union negotiator Morgan alleged delays in response, stating she intervened to escort a patient inside. MGB disputed this, claiming its emergency teams arrived within minutes and that the nurse’s actions “interfered with emergency response efforts.”
Lockout Timeline and Implications
The lockout is scheduled to end on Monday, July 13, at 7 a.m. Brigham operating room nurse Felicia James vowed, “We’re not going to go away. We’re going to stay here and fight until they let us in.” The lockout does not affect Massachusetts General Hospital, where nurses are not unionized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the nurses’ strike? The strike was over demands for better pay, with nurses alleging zero-percent raise offers from MGB despite high living costs in Boston.
How long will the lockout last? The lockout is scheduled to end on Monday, July 13, after a four-day duration following the one-day strike.
Did the lockout affect other hospitals? No, the lockout applies only to Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Its sister facility, Massachusetts General Hospital, is not affected as its nurses are not unionized.
How might this labor dispute influence future healthcare negotiations in Massachusetts?
