Healthcare workers at Mass General Brigham in Boston and Mount Nittany Medical Center in Pennsylvania have announced strikes this week as employment contract negotiations grow increasingly contentious in the industry.
About 4,500 workers at Mass General’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the health system’s home care division took to the picket line on Wednesday, while 950 workers at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania, voted to strike later this month.
Nurses, home care workers, and other employees are seeking better pay and working conditions, according to their union.
The announcements are the latest strikes to hit the industry as work stoppages surge.
Although the amount of overall work stoppages decreased last year, healthcare strikes increased as frustrations over pay and working conditions mounted, according to a report from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the University of Illinois School of Labor and Employment Relations.
Approximately 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and 450 clinicians at MGB’s Home Care unit began a strike on Wednesday, the largest nurse and healthcare worker strike in Massachusetts’ history, according to their union.
Although the strike at Brigham and Women’s lasted one day, MGB said it would lock nurses out of the hospital for an additional four days, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union that represents the workers.
The hospital and union have been bargaining since November regarding wages and other benefits in employee contracts.
The striking nurses say they’re seeking competitive wages, protection of patient care services, and affordable health insurance.
MGB says its proposals ensure “market-leading compensation” through pay increases and investments in professional development and other areas.
Gov. Maura Healey called both sides into Boston as bargaining appeared stalled this week.
The MNA appreciated the Governor’s willingness to bring both sides into her office to discuss their positions.
Clinicians at MGB Home Care said they would strike for seven days beginning Wednesday.
They want reasonable caseload limits, competitive wages, and clear and transparent productivity standards in their contracts.
MGB Home Care says they’ve held 30 negotiation sessions and reached more than 20 tentative agreements on several provisions.
Mount Nittany Medical Center workers voted to strike later this month.
Over 900 workers at Mount Nittany Medical Center — a 260-bed acute care facility in central Pennsylvania — voted to approve a five-day strike beginning July 27, according to SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the union that represents the workers.
Ninety-eight percent of workers voted to begin the strike.
Negotiations for a new union contract began in April, with the workers’ contract expiring on June 30.
Workers say they were left with no choice but to vote to strike after executives at the hospital offered annual raises that did not keep pace with inflation.
“While Mount Nittany focuses on new buildings, towers, and expansions, many essential workers are struggling to keep up with rising costs and bills,” Jess Mulroy, registered nurse at Mount Nittany and a vice president of the hospital’s union chapter, said in a statement.
Mount Nittany said negotiations are still underway and both parties will continue to work toward an agreement.
“Although important topics remain unresolved, we will continue negotiating in good faith with the goal of reaching a fair and sustainable agreement,” the hospital said.
