About 4,000 unionized nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital walked off the job Wednesday in the largest nurses strike in Massachusetts history, following months of unsuccessful contract negotiations with hospital operator Mass General Brigham (MGB).
The one-day strike centers on disputes over wages, health insurance costs, and working conditions. Although the work stoppage itself is scheduled to last only one day, striking nurses will remain locked out until July 13 because the hospital has contracted replacement nurses for five days.
MGB said it hired nearly 1,300 temporary nurses to maintain operations during the strike and expects patient care to continue with limited disruptions. Hospital officials said most appointments and procedures will proceed as scheduled unless patients are contacted directly, although some outpatient services have been postponed and the Foxborough Surgery Center will remain closed through Friday.
