by James Carlson
Boston, MA
[We publish this online a day after nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital voted by 93% to authorize an indefinite strike]
On July 8th, 15 members of ISG joined a rally and picket line with 4,500 nurses on strike at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Brigham nurses face unsafe work conditions. Staffing problems, safety issues, and nurses being overworked have been too common for so long. These nurses are members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association and work for a corporation called Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB). MGB has $35.8 billion in assets and made $2.4 billion in profit in 2025. The nurses’ strike took place in multiple locations. Management retaliated with a four-day lockout.
Nurses are looking for:
- Limits on MGB’s reliance on temporary nurses to support continuity and quality of care
- Affordable health insurance with meaningful plan choice
- A differential for nurses required to float among units
- Meaningful cost-of-living wage increase
MGB told the Brigham nurses on August 11 that they are at a “practical impasse” and are refusing to negotiate any further. This follows MGB’s offer of two paths: a potential across-the-board wage increase, but the union would have to drop all other issues; or no wage increase for anyone, and they would start dealing with other issues.
In addition, MGB Home Care clinicians voted to unionize in June of 2024 and are fighting for a first contract with similar demands, including reasonable caseload limits, clear and transparent productivity standards, and competitive wages.
We call for Brigham and Women’s nurses’ demands to be met and for a strong first contract for the Home Care clinicians. ISG members will help mobilize for any solidarity actions organized by the MNA to win their struggles.
MGB management has refused multiple times to negotiate a first contract.
