Brigham and Women’s Nurses Set for Record Strike After Negotiations Fail

The labor impasse centers on a sharp divide between the hospital system’s executive compensation and the economic demands of its bedside staff. While Mass General Brigham reported a $2.4 billion net margin last year and paid its top 14 executives a combined $35.9 million in fiscal year 2024, union representatives say the administration has ignored pleas for competitive wages, affordable health insurance, and increased investment in the permanent nursing workforce. Kelly Morgan, chair of the BWH MNA Bargaining Committee, described the management’s stance as a disregard for patient safety and professional respect.

Following the one-day strike, which is scheduled to conclude on the morning of July 9, the hospital system plans to lock nurses out for an additional four days. Union leaders argue this extension needlessly jeopardizes patient care and undermines the stability of the facility. Alongside the hospital nurses, 450 clinicians at MGB Home Care are also preparing for a seven-day strike starting July 8. The walkout comes after months of failed negotiations, during which nurses overwhelmingly voted to authorize the action by 99.6 percent.