St. Vincent Threatens To Replace Striking Nurses

WORCESTER, MA — Over 700 St. Vincent Hospital nurses are on strike, and the hospital said Wednesday it will begin to replace some of them permanently.

The threat from St. Vincent leaders is the latest volley in a public relations war over the strike, which is now more than two months old, the longest active strike in the nation at the moment. The nurses are seeking a new contract, and want it to include boosted staffing ratios across many departments.

On Wednesday, the hospital said it would begin hiring to permanently replace 50 striking nurses. Any striking nurses who are replaced will get priority if they reapply for a job, according to federal labor rules.

"We had hoped we would not need to take this action." St. Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson said in a news release. "However, without a signal that the MNA is willing to compromise and reach resolution, we do not have a choice."

In a statement, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) union called the move a "cynical threat."

"In response, the nurses remain unmoved by the announcement, having fully expected Tenet to move in this direction, and see it as yet another desperate attempt to avoid negotiating in good faith with the nurses; while once again demonstrating the for-profit corporation’s complete lack of respect for the nurses and the valuable role they have in protecting the community," the MNA's response said.

The two sides returned to the negotiating table last week after St. Vincent offered a contract that included provisions on staffing used by the UMass Memorial system. The MNA made a counterproposal, which St. Vincent leaders said was above what they were willing to offer.

The strike began on March 8 following more than a year of failed negotiations between the two sides. St. Vincent nurses last went on strike about 20 years ago, which is when they voted to join a union.