On this page
In the Brigham nurses contract vote, a majority of the roughly 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston rejected a tentative agreement with Mass General Brigham, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA). Pay was the main sticking point, and the union now wants to return to the bargaining table, with another strike possible on 10 days’ notice.
Key points
- Brigham nurses voted down the tentative contract after two days of voting, the union said on 23 October 2026; the exact vote count was not released.
- The rejected offer added 2.5% yearly raises for two years for nurses at the top of the wage scale, but no across-the-board increase.
- The MNA can call a new strike with 10 days’ notice but has not announced one.
What happened in the Brigham nurses contract vote
Nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the largest group of unionized nurses in Massachusetts, voted on a tentative agreement reached earlier in October. The union said a majority voted no, WBUR reported on 23 October 2026.
Mass General Brigham had described the offer as its “last, best and final.” The health system says it cannot afford the raises nurses first asked for and is cutting some jobs to save money.
Kelly Morgan, who chairs the nurses’ bargaining committee, said the result shows “the resolve of Brigham nurses.”
Why Brigham nurses rejected the deal
Wages were the core dispute. Brigham nurses already move up a 20-step scale that gives 5% raises each year for their first 20 years. Nurses at the top of that scale do not get those step raises.
The rejected offer gave top-of-scale nurses a 2.5% raise each year for two years. It did not include the across-the-board increases the union wanted for everyone. WBUR noted that both sides had agreed on many other parts of the contract.
Earlier in the dispute, the union listed these demands, according to GBH News:
- cost-of-living increases;
- affordable health insurance;
- limits on the use of temporary travel nurses; and
- protections around patient care.
Timeline of the Brigham nurses dispute
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| About a year of talks | Contract negotiations between the MNA and Mass General Brigham |
| July 2026 | One-day strike, followed by a four-day lockout; about 1,300 temporary nurses brought in |
| Early October 2026 | Nurses give 10-day notice of an open-ended strike set for 14 October |
| Before 14 October | Tentative agreement reached; strike postponed |
| 23 October 2026 | Union says a majority voted to reject the tentative agreement |
Will Brigham nurses strike again?
No new strike has been announced. The MNA said it will ask hospital leaders to return to bargaining within days. The union must give 10 days’ notice before any strike, so patients and staff would have warning.
The vote comes as other Boston nurses settle. Nurses at Boston Medical Center, who belong to a different union, recently reached a deal that averted a possible strike, WBUR reported.
What it means for nurses
- Top-of-scale pay is becoming a flashpoint. Experienced nurses who have maxed out step raises are pushing for across-the-board increases, a pattern worth watching in your own contract talks.
- Travel and agency nurses may see short-term demand. Hospitals used about 1,300 temporary nurses during the July walkout, so a new strike could mean fresh short-term contracts in Boston.
- Know your contract timeline. If you work under a union contract, check when it expires, how votes work, and what notice rules apply before any strike.
- Patient safety stays central. Staffing protections and limits on temporary staff remain part of the debate, linking pay to safe care. See our summary of research on nurse understaffing and patient mortality.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Brigham nurses reject the contract?
Pay was the main issue. The offer added 2.5% yearly raises for two years only for nurses at the top of the wage scale and did not include the across-the-board increases the union had sought. The union said a majority of its roughly 4,000 members voted no, but it did not release the count.
Are Brigham and Women’s nurses on strike now?
No. As of 23 October 2026, no new strike had been announced. The Massachusetts Nurses Association said it would ask management to return to the bargaining table. The union can call a strike, but it must give the hospital 10 days’ notice first, so any walkout would be announced in advance.
How much do Brigham nurses earn?
WBUR reported that senior nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital earn $220,000 or more a year. Nurses move up a 20-step wage scale with 5% raises each year. The dispute focuses on raises for nurses who have reached the top step and on increases for the whole workforce.
Related on Nurses Notes
- Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers strike: what happened
- Nurse understaffing and patient mortality: 2026 study
- Signs of nurse burnout and what to do about them
- More healthcare news for nurses
Sources
- Brigham nurses reject contract deal, call for return to bargaining table – WBUR, 23 October 2026
- Brigham and Women’s nurses set Oct. 14 strike date – GBH News, 2 October 2026
This summary is for information only and does not replace official guidance or advice from a qualified professional.
