Unionized nurses at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass., which is part of Boston-based Partners HealthCare, picketed Thursday to protest wages and working conditions, according to a report by The Beverly Citizen.
Contract negotiations between the hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association recently broke down, which led to the picket, according to the report.
NSMC proposed a contract with a 2 percent annual wage increase for the nurses, bringing the wage increase in line with other hospital employees, a hospital spokesman told The Beverly Citizen. However, the current contract has a 4 percent annual increase.
The proposed contract also asks nurses to "float" to departments in the event of shortages. According to the union, this can decrease the quality of patient care.
Negotiations between NSMC and the MNA will continue April 9 with a federal mediator.
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