Thousands of BMC nurses picket in Boston, Brockton amid contract dispute
Multiplatform Content Director
BOSTON —
Thousands of nurses at Boston Medical Center are expected to picket Wednesday amid concerns about staffing stability, workplace safety, wages and rising health insurance costs.
The pickets are planned outside Boston Medical Center and BMC Brockton Behavioral Health Center.
Nurses say inadequate wages and higher health insurance premiums are contributing to burnout and staff turnover. They also cite safety concerns as a major issue in ongoing contract negotiations with the hospital.
The planned demonstration is a picket, not a strike, and no interruption to patient care has been announced. BMC’s website did warn about traffic delays and asked patients to plan for extra travel time.
Boston Medical Center said it values its nursing staff and remains committed to reaching a contract agreement.
“Boston Medical Center values the contributions of our nursing team and remains committed to reaching agreement on a contract that provides competitive wages while supporting the long-term sustainability of the hospital and our ability to care for the community,” the hospital said in a statement.
Earlier this month, thousands of nurses executed a strike at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. It was the biggest nursing strike and lockout in state history.