Tufts nurses begin 1-day strike Wednesday morning

BOSTON — Registered nurses at Tufts Medical Center have announced a one-day strike after failing to reach an agreement with the hospital.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association represents 1,200 RNs at Tufts, and in a release said this will be the largest nurses’ strike in Massachusetts history and the first in Boston in more than 30 years.

“We came to the table today hoping to reach an agreement, but Tufts management is determined to force a strike and a subsequent lock out of our nurses,” said Mary Havlicek Cornacchia, an OR nurse and bargaining unit co-chair. “This decision really shows administration’s lack of respect for its nurses and for the safety our patients.”

The strike is set to begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday and continue to 6:59 a.m. Thursday.

Tufts Medical Center released a statement just after 9 p.m. Tuesday chastising the nurses for their decision.

The MNA had an opportunity to reach an agreement tonight; they instead chose to strike and have our nurses walk out on patients. We went to the table today and offered a path forward that met the needs of our nurses. The union recycled their retirement proposal that is risky for nurses and expensive for the hospital. We have more than 320 experienced nurses here to care for patients beginning tomorrow morning. We will deliver the same exceptional care that we always have at Tufts Medical Center.

Cox Media Group