Nurses at Greenfield, Mass.-based Baystate Franklin Medical Center plan to strike Feb. 28 if a contract agreement is not reached with management, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
Here are five things to know.
1. The MNA, which represents about 200 BFMC nurses, said in a statement workers gave the hospital a 10-day strike notice on Feb. 16.
2. Nurses are seeking improved patient care and a resolution to contract issues, specifically health insurance and staffing, according to the MNA.
3. Baystate Franklin spokesperson Shelly Hazlett confirmed the hospital received a strike notice from the union, and expressed disappointment in the walkout plans.
The strike plans do "not reflect recent progress we have made in our negotiations with the MNA," she said in an emailed statement to Becker's Hospital Review.
4. The MNA and Baystate Franklin have been in negotiations since November 2016. Negotiations have been contentious at times, resulting in a one-day strike in June. Most recently, the MNA authorized a potential one-day strike Feb. 8, according to the union. Additionally, the hospital recently rejected an offer from U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., to host negotiations between the hospital and union.
5. Moving forward, Ms. Hazlett said the hospital seeks to continue direct conversation with the union and is confident both sides can reach an agreement. Meanwhile, Baystate Franklin is preparing for a possible strike.
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