Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, LABOR NEWS—Over 4,000 Brigham nurses return to work after historic strike and lockout, (Jul 13, 2026)
By Brandi O. Brown, J.D.
While the RNs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital returned to work this morning, MGB Home Care clinicians remain on strike through Tuesday.
This morning, more than 4,000 registered nurses at Mass General Brigham (MGB) and Women’s Hospital returned to work, ending what they describe as “the largest nurse strike and lockout in Massachusetts history.” They had attempted to return to work last week but were locked out by the employer for four days following the end of their strike. Reportedly, the hospital had signed a five-day contract for temporary replacements. Approximately 450 MGB Home Care clinicians remain on strike and their seven-day strike will conclude with a public rally on Tuesday afternoon outside MGB Headquarters.
Although they have returned to work, Brigham nurses remain without a contract agreement after eight months of bargaining without reaching agreement on key issues affecting recruitment, retention, and patient care. MGB Home Care clinicians continue seeking their first union contract after more than a year of negotiations. The nurses continue to seek a contract that improves recruitment and retention to strengthen patient care; competitive wage increases after months of proposals from MGB that have not included cost of living wage increases; affordable health insurance (no proposed MGB cost hike) and insurance choice; greater investment in permanent nurses rather than reliance on temporary staffing along with limitations on the use of temporary nurses; and protection of patient care services and investments in frontline caregivers.
MGB home care clinicians seek safe, reasonable caseloads; clear and enforceable productivity standards; competitive wages that support recruitment and retention; and a fair first union contract.
In June, the nurses voted overwhelmingly to authorize the one-day strike.
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