More than 450 Mass General Brigham Home Care clinicians are striking as they seek a first union contract that would establish caseload limits, transparent productivity standards and wages aimed at retaining experienced staff.
The seven-day strike, which began July 8, involves nurses, therapists, social workers, dietitians and other clinicians who provide intermittent post-acute care in patients’ homes.
The clinicians say they called the strike after more than 15 months of negotiations over what they describe as “very basic contract language,” according to Shannon Viera, a registered nurse with MGB Home Care.
“Throughout that time, MGB management has refused to address anything we want to bargain over in terms of working conditions,” Viera told Home Health Care News in an email. “We are looking to achieve a contract that includes a point system for productivity and measurement, caseload limits and wages that will retain qualified and experienced clinicians.”
Viera is also the chair of the MGB Home Care Massachusetts Nurses Association bargaining committee. The bargaining unit consists of over 450 employees, including nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers and dietitians. Workers anticipate striking until 7:59 a.m. on July 1.
Mass General Brigham is focused on reaching an agreement that supports patients’ care needs and the long-term sustainability of the system, according to a Mass General Brigham statement shared with HHCN.
“To date, we’ve held 30 negotiation sessions and reached more than 20 tentative agreements on several key provisions,” the statement read. “We have also proposed changes on overtime, enhanced on-call territory pay and wages, including new or improved pay scales. We believe our offer recognizes the essential contributions of our Home Care clinicians as valued members of our care teams, offering highly competitive pay that maintains their position at the top of the local market.”
During the strike, MGB Home Care has brought in temporary clinicians and is triaging patients to ensure those with the most acute needs continue to receive care, according to the health system. Some services, such as dietitian and speech-language therapy appointments, are paused, according to Mass General Brigham’s website.
Mass General Brigham Home Care provides intermittent post-acute skilled care and therapies to patients of all ages after hospital stays, treatment in skilled nursing or long-term acute care facilities, or outpatient surgeries.
According to Viera, MGB Home Care workers voted to unionize in 2024 after management drastically changed working conditions and increased health insurance costs.
“This is not just a home care issue; this is [a] social justice issue and a social equity issue,” Viera said.