Photos: Elizabeth Warren, Jim McGovern At Worcester Nurse Strike

WORCESTER, MA — The first week of the St. Vincent Hospital nurses strike ended with a boost from local politicians.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern spoke to the nurses outside the hospital Summer Street entrance on Friday afternoon, offering words of encouragement to the nurses — and encouragement to the hospital to return to the negotiating table. Former congressman Joe Kennedy III spoke to the nurses earlier in the day Friday.

The strike began Monday at 6 a.m. when about 800 nurses walked off the job. The nurses are seeking boosted staffing levels across multiple wards. The two sides have not been able to reach an agreement over how that will be achieved.

More than 100 St. Vincent nurses, meanwhile, crossed the picket line this week to go to work. The hospital has also hired temporary nurses to keep the facility fully open.

On Saturday, St. Vincent workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 union will begin picketing alongside the nurses. About 600 technical and support staff work at the hospital — ranging from housekeepers to radiology assistants — were unable to reach a new contract with the hospital at the end of February.