Newton-Wellesley Nurses Reach Contract Agreement After Strike Threat

NEWTON, MA — The registered nurses of Newton-Wellesley Hospital reached a tentative contract agreement with their employer.

The agreement comes on the heels of a vote by the nurses to authorize a strike. The new contract eliminates the need for any further hold-out.

The nearly 1,500 nurses employed by the hospital are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Kathy Reda is one of those nurses, as well as the Co-chair of the MNA’s Bargaining Committee along with fellow nurse Nora Watts. She cited Mass General Brigham’s increasing the price of health insurance as the catalyst for the strike.

Once approved by the entire Newton-Wellesley division of the MNA, the contract will take effect immediately and be valid through March 31, 2027. Some notable components to the contract include a 15.5% wage increase with retroactive pay back to the contract’s official start date of April 1, 2024, revised workplace violence language that provides post-crisis intervention support to nurses, and the addition of off-site ambulatory nurses and nurse practitioners who are part of the MNA to take part in bargaining.

“This tentative agreement demonstrates the strength MNA nurses have when we advocate together on behalf of our patients and our practice,” Watts said. “We are proud to have secured a significant investment by the hospital and Mass General Brigham to address recruitment and retention and help maintain the quality of our patient care.”