Boston's Brigham And Women's Hospital Nurses Return Tor Work Following Strike And Lockout

BOSTON, MA — Thousands of nurses returned to work at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital Monday following a one-day strike and four-day lockout.

"More than 4,000 registered nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital returned to caring for their patients at 6:59 a.m. Monday morning, concluding the largest nurse strike and lockout in Massachusetts history with a powerful solidarity walk into the hospital after Mass General Brigham’s (MGB) four-day lockout ended," the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union representing the Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses, said in a media release.

"Although Brigham nurses have returned to work, their contract fight is not over," the release said. "Nurses will continue pressing the billionaires on the MGB Board of Directors and its multi-millionaire executives to negotiate a fair agreement that respects nurses, strengthens recruitment and retention, and protects the quality of patient care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital."

The nurses staged a one-day strike Wednesday.

At the time, Brigham and Women's Hospital issued a statement saying it was "prepared to deliver safe care to our patients."

"We respect and value our nurses," the message said, adding, "We remain committed to reaching a fair and responsible agreement."

The nurses attempted to return to work the following day but were locked out by the hospital.

"We detailed to the governor our grave concerns about the level of care MGB’s replacement workers are providing," the union said in a media release. "Nurses and patient families have described harrowing conditions because MGB failed to staff adequately and hired nurses without proper qualifications."

While the nurses were back to work, about 450 MGB Home Care clinicians remained on strike and will continue through Tuesday, according to the union.

"Their historic seven-day strike will conclude with a public rally Tuesday afternoon outside MGB Headquarters in Assembly Row," the union said in its media release.

Related:

• Largest Strike Of Nurses' In MA History At Brigham and Women’s Hospital
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital Nurses Expect Lockout To Last 4 Days