Saint Vincent Hospital has hired 100 permanent nurses to replace roles vacated by nurses continuing to strike with the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
In a news release Sunday, the hospital said most of the hired nurses are already serving, while three dozen remaining nurses are at various stages of the hiring process. The facility staffs more than 200 nurses even as it has faced a months-long strike. Sunday’s announcement followed the Worcester hospital’s “last, best, and final offer” to the MNA on Thursday after more than 150 days of striking.
Hospital officials say the MNA has planned strike line social events through the end of the year, “indicating they have minimal interest or intention to end the strike,” according to the news release. The hospital says it’s only response can be to hire “as many nurses as possible” to provide access to core services, particularly as COVID-19 cases increase and as colder weather approaches in the coming months.
“These new nurses are joining numerous others who have served at our hospital for many years and who are truly focused on patient care. Together they are creating an improved culture within our hospital,” Saint Vincent Hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson said in a statement. “I want to express my sincere appreciation for all caregivers, especially the Saint Vincent nurses who put our patients first by crossing the MNA’s picket line, for their courage and resilience.”
The nurses’ union last week called the hospital’s offer an “unsatisfactory ultimatum.” The union noted it was offered two days after hospital officials declined to work with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C.
“This is in no way represents a good faith effort to find a resolution to this crisis, and just demonstrates Tenet’s callous disregard for their nurses, and more importantly, for our patients and our community, whose future health and safety are at the center of this dispute,” Marlena Pellegrino, a nurse at the hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, said in a statement. “It is only through good faith negotiations not hard-headed ultimatums that a fair agreement can and will be reached.”
Saint Vincent noted Sunday that a federal mediator confirmed it was the MNA who cancelled a session last Tuesday. Hospital officials say while they don’t see any value in continuing mediation, they are “certainly willing” to hear out any response to the offer.
Nurses went on strike in March, calling for safer staffing levels. The nurses’ union and the hospital, owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, have negotiated several times, but have yet to come to an agreement.
The latest offer from Tenet includes:
- Increase in wages of 8% to 35% between now and the end of the contract in 2024, enabling nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital to receive competitive wages for their respective tenures
- Addition of a 3% lump-sum bonus on hours worked in 2021 in recognition of nurses who are returning to the hospital to care for their patients
- Addition of a special lump-sum bonus for the most senior nurses to recognize their years of commitment to Saint Vincent and their patients
- Increase in benefits cost share by Saint Vincent Hospital for all nurses working 24 hours or more hours per week, reducing their out-of-pocket healthcare benefits expenses
- Addition of key workplace safety measures agreed upon with the MNA, the majority of which have already been implemented
The nurses’ union says it includes the same staffing provisions presented in earlier negotiations.
Saint Vincent Hospital recently conducted a review of its staffing levels and determined that its nurse to patient staffing ratio is in the top 75th percentile of peer hospitals in Massachusetts, according to the statement from the hospital. Recently, Saint Vincent tied for ninth statewide as a top health center in rankings by U.S. News & World Report.
Saint Vincent’s announced this summer it was scaling back services, citing the impact of the strike. The areas affected include progressive care units, psychiatry beds, cardiac rehab and wound care, the hospital said.
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