Local News
Nurses say they are fighting for safer patient care, improved workplace safety, and better recruitment and retention of experienced nurses.
Dr. Eric Dickson is the CEO of Worcester’s UMass Memorial Health. (David L Ryan/Globe Staff)
Nurses at the UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University Campus in Worcester overwhelmingly voted to authorize a 14-day strike on Wednesday.
The nurses, who are unionized with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, say they are fighting to win a fair contract that ensures safer patient care, improves workplace safety, and helps recruit and retain experienced nurses needed to operate one of the state’s busiest Level 1 trauma centers.
“The message from our nurses with this vote was undeniable,” said Ellen Smith, RN, co-chair of the bargaining unit, in a statement. “UMass Memorial’s nurses are united, determined, and prepared to fight for the future of patient care at this hospital.”
Nurses voted 1,233 to 17 in favor of the strike, after a months-long campaign by UMass University nurses to pressure executives to address their concerns.
The strike authorization does not mean nurses are immediately going on strike. It gives the bargaining committee the authority to call a 14-day strike later if negotiations continue to fail.
“We remain 100 percent committed to continuing to bargain in good faith and to reaching a fair agreement,” a UMass Memorial Health spokesperson said. “A work stoppage impacts everyone. We are confident we can reach a resolution that is beneficial to our nurses and non-nursing caregivers, the care we provide to our patients, and the overall stability of the Medical Center.”
The hospital is the region’s only academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center. As a result, the union says that it serves some of the sickest and most medically complex patients in Central Massachusetts.
The union claims that persistent staffing challenges have increased pressure on frontline workers and threatened the hospital’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality patient care.
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More than 4,000 Mass General Brigham nurses to strike on July 8
Recently, nurses delivered a petition signed by over 80% of the bargaining unit to UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Eric Dickson, pledging to “do whatever it takes to win a fair contract.”
“No nurses want to strike,” said Margaret McLoughlin, RN, and co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center’s University Campus, in a statement.
She continued, “But our members have made it clear that they are prepared to do whatever it takes to secure a contract that protects our patients, improves safety, and makes this hospital a place where experienced nurses want to stay, and new nurses want to build their careers.”
If the strike moves forward, they will be joining the more than 4,000 Mass General Brigham nurses in Boston who plan to go on strike on July 8.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
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