About 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston plan to begin an open-ended strike at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, after the Massachusetts Nurses Association delivered a strike notice on Friday, Oct. 2. Unlike July's one-day walkout, this strike has no scheduled end date and would continue until a contract agreement is reached, Boston 25 News reported. The union is calling it an unfair labor practice strike, citing federal labor complaints it has filed since July.
For families, the question has shifted. It is no longer whether a strike could happen, but whether a surgery, prenatal visit, infusion, or follow-up booked for mid-October will go ahead. An open-ended timeline makes that harder to plan around.
Hospital and Union Positions Ahead of the Walkout
Mass General Brigham, the hospital's parent system, says it will keep providing care. "We take seriously the union's decision to issue a strike notice and are fully prepared to continue providing safe, high-quality care for our patients throughout a strike," spokesperson Jessica Pastore said, according to NBC Boston. She added, "While we had hoped to avoid another strike, our teams have comprehensive plans in place, informed by our experience during the five-day work stoppage in July."
The union says there is still room to settle. "There is still time to reach an agreement that protects patient care and respects nurses," said Kelly Morgan, a labor and delivery nurse who chairs the union's bargaining committee at the hospital.
The dispute centers on cost-of-living raises, health insurance costs, staffing, and limits on temporary travel nurses. Mass General Brigham says nurses already receive 5% annual raises as they move up a 20-step wage scale and that it has proposed a new 2.5% increase for nurses at the top step. The Boston Globe reported that the two sides have held at least 25 bargaining sessions since November 2025 and that management declared an impasse on Aug. 11. The union says talks have largely stalled since August. As of Oct. 2, no tentative agreement had been announced.
MedicalDaily previously reported on the nurses' 93% vote to authorize an open-ended strike, when no date had been set. The Oct. 2 notice meets the required 10-day warning.
Replacement Nurses and the July Precedent
The Globe reported that Mass General Brigham has arranged for replacement nurses through US Nursing, a Colorado-based temporary staffing company, and that most temporary nurses who worked during the July strike have agreed to return if needed.
July offers the clearest picture of what patients may see, though it does not predict what will happen in October. The hospital oriented nearly 1,300 replacement nurses, including some trained for high-acuity units such as neonatal intensive care, according to the Globe's July coverage. Pastore said at the time that there were "no across-the-board cancellations of elective procedures" and that the hospital would contact affected patients directly.
Some changes did occur. Certain appointments could be rescheduled or moved to another Mass General Brigham site, and the Foxborough ambulatory surgery center closed for three days, Boston.com reported. Because replacement nurses worked under five-day contracts, union nurses were locked out for four days after the one-day strike.
The key difference now is length. In July, a one-day strike became a five-day work stoppage in practice. An open-ended strike has no built-in end.
Patients Most Likely to Feel the Effects
Patients with care that is hard to delay have the most at stake. That includes scheduled surgeries, cancer treatment, pregnancy care and planned deliveries, and chronic conditions that require regular specialist visits. Older adults and people with limited transportation may face extra strain if a visit moves to another site.
In July, the hospital told patients to "continue to go to scheduled appointments unless they hear directly from their care team" and to allow extra time for travel. Patients should watch for any updated guidance before Oct. 14.
Practical steps now include checking your patient portal, calling the office or surgical scheduler to ask whether your visit falls within the strike period, and asking whether it could move to another location. Patients in active treatment can ask whom to call if plans change and keep a list of their medications and refill dates.
Do not cancel care on your own because of the strike notice, and talk with a clinician before changing any treatment plan. Anyone with chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke, or heavy bleeding should call 911.
Talks could still resume before Oct. 14. For now, the most useful step is a phone call to confirm your appointment.
Key Questions Answered
When does the Brigham and Women's nurse strike start? About 4,000 nurses plan to begin an open-ended strike at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. It would continue until a contract agreement is reached.
Will Brigham and Women's Hospital stay open? Mass General Brigham says it is fully prepared to continue providing care during a strike, using temporary replacement nurses.
Will my surgery or appointment be canceled? That is not yet clear. In July, the hospital said there were no across-the-board cancellations of elective procedures and contacted affected patients directly. Confirm your plans with your care team.
What are the nurses striking over? Cost-of-living raises, affordable health insurance, staffing, and limits on travel nurses. The hospital cites 5% annual step raises and a proposed 2.5% increase for top-step nurses.
Could a deal still stop the strike? Yes, if the two sides reach an agreement before Oct. 14. As of Oct. 2, no tentative agreement had been announced.
What should patients do in an emergency during the strike? Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. A strike should never delay emergency care.
Published by Medicaldaily.com
