Full Breakdown
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Nurses Return After Massachusetts’ Largest Strike and Lockout
7/13/2026, 8:55:31 PM
Return to Work After Historic Strike and Lockout
On Monday July 13, 2026, approximately 4,000 nurses re-entered Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston at 7 a.m., ending a one-day strike that began on Wednesday July 8 and a subsequent five-day lockout imposed by Mass General Brigham (MGB). The nurses resumed their regular shifts without a new contract, while the hospital continued to operate with about 1,300 temporary nurses hired to cover the work stoppage.
Background & Context
The dispute centers on wages and health-insurance costs. The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) has represented the nurses since the union’s formation in 2024. Negotiations have been ongoing since at least November 2025, with MGB citing more than 20 bargaining sessions. Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu have both met with the parties to encourage a resolution, but no agreement has been reached.
Data & Statistics
- Strike participants: ~4,000 registered nurses.
- Temporary staff: ~1,300 replacement nurses employed for five days.
- Current pay scale: Starting salary $86,700; nurses with 20 years of service earn at least $220,000. Approximately 1,322 nurses already receive the maximum salary.
- Union demand: 3 % wage increase for the first six months, followed by 4 % for the next 12 months.
- Hospital offer: No new across-the-board raise; existing 5 % step increase each year for up to 20 years.
Official Statements & Responses
MGB communicated that patient care “remained at the highest level of quality” throughout the work stoppage, noting two lung transplants and one heart transplant performed during the period. The system’s statement emphasized respect for nurses and a commitment to a “fair agreement.” An MGB spokesperson added that the organization “respect[s] the union’s right to picket” but warned that picketing that disrupts patient care, equipment deliveries, or the healing environment is unacceptable.
The MNA reiterated that the strike was intended to secure a “fair contract” covering wages, staffing, working conditions, and benefits. Union leaders emphasized that the return to work does not signal the end of negotiations.
Criticism & Opposition
Hospital officials argue that the union’s demands are “not financially sustainable and not supported by the current labor market.” The MGB maintains that nurses already receive a 5 % annual raise for two decades, suggesting additional raises would strain budgets. Union representatives counter that the existing compensation structure does not address rising health-insurance costs and staffing concerns, describing the lockout as a “stupid game” that penalized nurses.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
MGB claims uninterrupted, high-quality patient care during the lockout, citing successful transplants. Union members and on-site clinicians reported “remarkably smooth” transitions but also expressed anxiety about potential care gaps. No independent audit of patient outcomes during the five-day lockout has been released, leaving the true impact on care quality unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Let’s go back to work and take care of our patients,” — Kelly Morgan, nurse and union leader
- “Because of you, our patients continued to receive the specialized and life-saving care the Brigham has always been known for,” — Mass General Brigham email to staff
- “We respect and value our nurses and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement,” — Mass General Brigham statement
- “Today we walked back into the Brigham together with our heads held high because we never stopped fighting for our patients,” — Kelly Morgan, chair of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital MNA Bargaining Committee
What’s Next
MGB and the MNA have not scheduled another negotiation session. Governor Healey and Mayor Wu have invited both parties to continue talks at the State House and City Hall, respectively. The ongoing strike by roughly 450 Mass General Brigham home-care clinicians is slated to end after a rally at Assembly Row in Somerville on Tuesday, but those workers also seek their first union contract.
