Health · Brigham nursesBoston nurses strike: Brigham sets November 12 for open-ended walkoutAired November 4, 2026 at 6:38 AM UTCWritten November 4, 2026 at 6:49 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Brigham Nurses rejected the hospital's latest contract offer and set a strike with0:12no end date.0:13The union represents four thousand nurses, putting staffing and patient care at0:18stake at one of Boston's hospitals.0:21Can the next bargaining session produce an agreement before nurses leave their jobs,0:26potentially for an indefinite stretch?0:28The nurses have set November twelfth, twenty twenty-six at seven in the morning for0:33the walkout.0:35As of November four, that action is still ahead.0:39Patients trying to understand the hospital situation need to keep two dates0:43separate.0:44The hospital received strike notice on November one.0:48The planned start is Thursday, November twelve, at seven in the morning.0:53November one fell on a Sunday.0:55The notice gives the hospital advance warning while leaving time for another round1:00of negotiations.1:01The union wants a cost of living adjustment and changes addressing staffing1:05shortages, healthcare benefits.1:07And patient care.1:09Nurses link their own working conditions to the care they can provide.1:12They rejected the latest offer after an earlier strike plan was put on hold to allow1:18a vote.1:18Jen DeVincent has worked at the hospital for twenty-three years.1:22She said, There is not one Brigham nurse that wants to strike.1:26We want this contract settled.1:28She wants an agreement.1:30Nurses will approve so they can keep caring for patients.1:33De Vincent says the hospital moved a little on health insurance and contract1:38language about temporary nurses, but she says it offered nothing toward a cost of1:42living increase.1:44That's her assessment of the proposal.1:47The nurse's rejection sends both sides back to bargaining over those unresolved1:51concerns.1:52The bargaining unit represents four thousand nurses.1:56Committee chair Kelly Morgo warns an indefinite walkout would affect patients and2:01ripple across Boston.2:03The union says the proposed action could become the largest open-ended nurses'2:07strike in Massachusetts history.2:09If an agreement doesn't stop it, Mass General Brigham says it's prepared to keep2:14providing safe, high-quality care throughout any work stoppage.2:18The hospital system points to its experience and extensive contingency planning.2:23Its reassurance and the union's warning describe what each side expects if the2:29strike goes ahead.2:30For the earlier threatened October stoppage, officials plan to bring in one thousand2:35six hundred to two thousand temporary nurses.2:38Each would work five consecutive twelve-hour shifts.2:41That October9 plan shows the scale of preparations.2:44Then, November's final staffing arrangements haven't been detailed.2:48How the proposed November strike would affect individual patients isn't clear yet.2:54The hospital's readiness pledge still has to meet the demands of any actual2:58stoppage.2:59In July, replacement contracts already helped determine how long the regular nurses3:05stayed away from patient care.3:06Nurses struck for one day on July eight.3:09The hospital then locked them out for four more days, saying replacement nurses had3:14five-day contracts.3:16Nurses returned to patient care July thirteenth.3:19The hospital imposed those additional days away after the union's one-day action.3:24The October walkout was postponed before it began.3:28The union announced it on October two, setting October14 as the start.3:33By October12 , nurses had postponed that action while arranging a vote on the3:38hospital's final offer.3:39They rejected it, leading to the renewed notice received.3:42Both sides are scheduled to return to bargaining November9.3:46No settlement has been announced.3:48An agreement before November12 , at seven in the morning could avert the walkout.3:53If nurses strike as planned, they'll leave without an announced return date.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
