BRATTLEBORO-Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) nurses voted on March 23 to authorize a strike, if necessary.
No date for a strike has been set. According to a news release, an “overwhelming supermajority” of BMH nurses, represented by the Brattleboro Federation of Nurses (BFN), voted for the strike authorization.
The vote follows what BFN called “stalled negotiations, with management continuing to propose concessions that nurses say would hurt patient care and drive staff away.”
Proposals by BMH management include no wage increases for three years, cuts to differentials for frontline workers, a reduction in retirement contributions, forcing spouses off family insurance, cuts to paid time off, and rollbacks of union rights.
“Our community is at a tipping point,” said Tracy Ouellette, BFN president and BMH nurse. “If these cuts move forward, we’re going to lose more nurses, and patients will feel it; in longer waits, less support, and less consistent care. We don’t want to see that happen here.”
Nurses say the authorization vote reflects the seriousness of the situation and the stakes for the community.
“We don’t take this decision lightly,” said Ouellette. “But we are prepared to do what it takes to protect our community hospital and make sure it remains a place where patients can get safe, reliable care.”
Management at the hospital said in a news release that it is “engaged in ongoing, good-faith negotiations with the union and remains ready to continue discussions to reach a fair and sustainable agreement. Both parties have agreed to continue negotiations on March 31. We are committed to addressing the concerns of our nursing staff while ensuring the hospital’s ability to serve the community without disruption.”
“Our nurses are critical to the care we provide, and we value their dedication and expertise,” said Dr. Elizabeth McLarney, BMH acting co-CEO. “At the same time, we must balance these needs with the responsibility to maintain a financially stable, high-functioning hospital. We urge the union to continue negotiating in good faith so we can avoid any disruption to patient care.”
In the meantime, BMH management said it “is taking all necessary precautions to maintain full operational readiness and protect patient safety during this time. We remain hopeful that continued dialogue will lead to a constructive resolution that meets the needs of both our staff and our patients.”
BFN says its nurses “remain focused on reaching a fair agreement and are urging hospital leadership to come back with proposals that support caregivers, strengthen patient care, and protect the hospital’s future in the community.”
This News item was submitted to The Commons.