Nurses Back to Work After Historic Strike

Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital returned to work on Monday, concluding a five-day strike and lockout that saw nearly 4,000 nurses walk off the job. This event represented the largest nurses' strike in the history of Massachusetts.

Despite the nurses' return, a new contract has not yet been finalized. The union and hospital management remain in negotiation, with key points of contention being proposed pay increases and health insurance costs. Discussions have been ongoing since November, with over 20 negotiation sessions held, but a resolution has yet to be found.

The union is seeking a 3 percent raise for the first six months of a new contract, followed by a 4 percent raise for the subsequent 12 months. Conversely, the hospital is not offering an immediate across-the-board raise, pointing to existing step increases nurses receive annually based on their tenure. Brigham nurses reportedly start at $86,700 annually, with those having two decades of service earning at least $220,000.

Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have both intervened, requesting that both parties reconvene stalled negotiations. The hospital stated that the nurses' demands are not financially sustainable and are not supported by the current labor market.