Brigham Nurses Turned Away After Strike Ends as Hospital Lockout Sparks New Tensions
What Happened?
The nurses’ planned 24-hour strike ended at 7 a.m. Thursday, and about 4,000 Brigham and Women’s Hospital nurses attempted to return to work.
Instead of returning to their units, they were met at the hospital entrance and refused entry, chanting “Let us in!” before returning to the picket line.
Lead union negotiator Kelly Morgan described the moment as “defeating” and “demoralizing.”
“We want to go back to work. We only wanted to do this for 24 hours. We want to be in there and take care of our patients.”
Why Are Nurses Locked Out?
Although the union authorized only a one-day strike, Mass General Brigham imposed a five-day lockout because it had already contracted approximately 1,300 replacement nurses to cover shifts through July 13.
Hospital leaders said the temporary contracts could not simply be canceled after one day, making the lockout necessary to maintain continuity of care.
Hospital Says Patient Care Is Safe
Mass General Brigham maintains that:
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital remains fully operational.
- Replacement nurses are providing safe patient care.
- Clinical outcomes during the strike have been equivalent to—or better than—the hospital’s usual performance, according to the hospital.
Union Raises New Safety Concerns
The dispute intensified Thursday after union leaders alleged there was a delay responding to a medical emergency outside the hospital.
Kelly Morgan said she crossed the picket line herself to assist the patient because, in her view, the hospital’s emergency response team did not arrive quickly enough.
Mass General Brigham strongly disputed that account.
Hospital officials said specialized emergency responders were dispatched immediately after receiving the call, but by the time they arrived, striking nurses had already escorted the patient elsewhere in the hospital. The hospital argued that bypassing established emergency response procedures created unnecessary risk.
Patient Leaves Hospital Bed to Support Nurses
One of the most emotional moments came when Warren Carter, a patient currently admitted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, left his hospital room wearing a homemade sign supporting the nurses.
He praised the nursing staff for making his two-week hospital stay bearable and said nurses remain underpaid despite the critical role they play in patient care.
Lockout Continues
Unless the two sides reach an agreement sooner, the lockout is scheduled to continue until Monday, July 13, at 7 a.m., while home care clinicians remain on strike until July 15.
This latest development shifts the story from “largest nurses’ strike” to a broader labor dispute over the hospital’s decision to keep nurses out even after their planned one-day strike ended.
