Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Nurses Strike Wednesday; Lockout Planned

METHUEN, MA — A Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) Merrimack Valley nurses union plans to strike Wednesday. The hospital plans to then lock out nurses on Thursday and Friday, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

"DFCI executives have refused to make reasonable compromises with nurses to reach a fair contract," the union claimed in a press release.

The two sides have not made progress on key items such as benefits and daily overtime standards.

DFCI said in a statement that they are "deeply disappointed" that the nurses union has "chosen to strike rather than focus their attention on working with us to reach an agreement on a first contract."

Hospital officials said that in 19 bargaining sessions over nine months they have been negotiating in good faith to create the first collective bargaining agreement with Merrimack Valley nurses.

"The proposed contract is very competitive in the market and includes retroactive retirement contributions, significantly raised salaries, and step increases in wages," DFCI said in a statement. "The MNA rejected every one of those concessions, choosing to walk away from negotiations and our patients."

However, the union said that minimal progress has been made in negotiations.

“It is outrageous that Dana-Farber executives would rather spend untold money on travelers and lock us out rather than simply meet the needs of nurses and support the cancer care we provide in Merrimack Valley,” Kate Mitchell, a DFCI nurse practitioner, said in a union statement. “What does it say about Dana-Farber executives that they cannot compromise with nurses on wages and benefits, but they can bring in outside nurses to extend a one-day strike into three days?"

The hospital's nurses approved authorization to strike by a measure of 97% last month.

Hospital officials said they have contracted "highly experienced and well-trained nurses for the duration of the work stoppage, which will now go through Friday, September 29."

Nurses who care for oncology patients at the facility voted to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association in July 2022. Nurses say they are seeking fair pay and benefits equal to the cancer institute's Boston location to maintain the staffing necessary to provide critical patient care.

DFCI – Merrimack Valley opened in 2020 with 24 exam rooms and 32 infusion bays. The location offers expanded cancer and blood disorder care and outpatient services for adult patients in the region.