Union nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital voted to reject management's "last, best and final offer" on updated contracts, potentially steering the dispute back toward what could be the largest open-ended nurse strike in Massachusetts history. 

The Massachusetts Nurses Association had previously scheduled the strike for Oct. 14, but postponed to give its members a chance to vote on the proposal from Mass General Brigham, the hospital's parent system. The union said it has requested to resume contract negotiations this week, with the hospital responding in its own public statement this it "is prepared to maintain uninterrupted care and respond to any steps the union may take."

MGB's rejected offer would have retained the hospital's existing nursing wage progression system of annual 5% step increases until 20 years tenure, with the addition of two additional 2.5% increases at the top of the prior structure. The union has said it is seeking limits on the use of temporary nurses, more affordable health insurance benefits and “a meaningful cost-of-living wage increase” that includes a differential for nurses floating between units. 

“This vote shows the resolve of Brigham nurses, who are fighting for patient safety and for the professional respect we deserve," Kelly Morgan, chair of the union's bargaining committee for the hospital, said in a weekend release. "It’s [time for] MGB to return to the table ready to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair agreement that recognizes the value of Brigham nurses and the expertise they offer for the care of some of the region’s most complex patients every day.”

Brigham and Women's Hospital said it was "disappointed" by the rejection, and that its proposal "reflected the hospital’s commitment to investing in our nurses while supporting long-term sustainability, including meaningful compensation and benefit enhancements that kept Brigham nursing pay among the highest in the market."

Notably, the announcement of the member vote's outcome coincided with news that MGB has begun a new round of layoffs affecting both clinical and operational programs. The unspecified number of cuts reflect a financial need to further adjust operating MGB's structure even after roughly 1,500 people were laid off in 2024, the system said.

Oct. 13, 2026

Brigham and Women's nurses postpone open-ended strike

Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have lifted their notice of an Oct. 14 strike after their union and Mass General Brigham management made progress toward a potential contract deal late Saturday night, the sides said in statements.

The 4,000-member open-ended strike would be the largest in state history if launched, and follows months of contract negotiations between the health system and the Massachusetts Nurses Association (see that coverage below). 

A formal deal has yet to be struck, though the union said it agreed to call off its 10-day strike notice "given the complexity of the agreement and the impact of a potential strike on our nurses and the community." The proposal is being presented to members for a vote, which might yield a new 10-day notice if rejected.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, in a Sunday statement, said its "last, best and final offer ... reflects significant movement on several of the union's priorities while maintaining a responsible approach to supporting nurses, patients and the long-term strength of the hospital."

It added that the offer retains the hospital's existing nursing wage progression system of annual 5% step increases until 20 years tenure, with the addition of two additional 2.5% increases at the top of the prior structure. The withdrawn notice also saved the hospital from having to implement its contingency staffing plan of hiring temporary nurses. 

"We are thankful the MNA has pulled its indefinite strike notice and will allow its members to vote on the hospital's final offer," the hospital said. The union's statement did not specify the timing of that vote.

Sept. 25

Brigham and Women's nurses authorize open-ended strike

Editor's note: On Oct. 2, the Massachusetts Nurses Association announced an Oct. 14, 7:00 a.m. start time for their strike if no deal is reached.

Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have voted to authorize an open-ended, 4,000-member strike that could become the largest nurses’ strike in Massachusetts history.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association announced the 93% in favor vote that was held Thursday evening. No date has been set yet by the union, which is legally required to give employer Mass General Brigham (MGB) 10 days' notice. 

“Brigham nurses have made clear that we are prepared to stay on strike for as long as it takes to win a contract that protects our patients and respects the nurses who care for them,” Kelly Morgan, a labor and delivery nurse and chair of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital MNA Bargaining Committee, said in the union’s announcement. “An open-ended strike is a serious step that will undoubtedly create a healthcare crisis in Massachusetts. MGB can prevent the strike by returning to the table and negotiating the contract our nurses need to keep providing world-class care.”

Contract negotiations between the sides have been ongoing since last November, with the prior agreement expiring on March 31. In July, the nurses (plus an additional 450 home care clinicians) conducted a one-day awareness strike that was also a record breaker for the state and the first at Brigham and Women’s, a flagship hospital and founding member of the nonprofit system. 

Demonstrations have continued in the weeks since, including a rally held earlier this week outside of an MGB-hosted World Medical Innovation Forum, where bargaining members painted a contrast between executives’ conversations with investors on AI and the demands of their clinical workforce.

The hospital, in statements given to press, said “we remain committed to bargaining in good faith and have put forward a fair and responsible proposal that maintains Brigham nurses’ market-leading compensation, preserves meaningful wage growth and competitive benefits, and balances those investments with the long-term financial sustainability of our system,” the hospital said in a statement given to press.

The hospital has previously said it has found agreements with the union on several issues. However, the union has previously said that talks stalled in mid-August and reiterated Thursday that it still is seeking limits on the use of temporary nurses, more affordable health insurance benefits and “a meaningful cost-of-living wage increase” that includes a differential for nurses floating between units. 

MGB is the largest private employer in Massachusetts with roughly 85,000 workers and $22.8 billion in annual revenue, making it among the country’s largest nonprofit health systems. Financial results released last month outlined a $15 million operating income (0.1% operating margin) across nine months of its ongoing fiscal year, up from a $44 million operating loss (-0.3% operating margin), though its nine-month bottom line including nonoperating gains like investment returns was $1.9 billion. Early last year saw the organization undertake the largest layoffs in its history, when it cut about 1,500 workers.

The union has pointed to MGB’s bottom line (nearly $2.4 billion across fiscal 2025), substantial total assets ($35.8 billion) and the compensation of executives (almost $9.2 million for CEO Anne Klibanski, M.D.) in its calls for stronger contracts.