Despite a vote authorizing Massachusetts Nurses Association leadership to call a one-day strike for union nurses at Tufts Medical Center, negotiations are ongoing and no strike date has been set, MNA Communications Director David Schildmeier confirmed.
However, a picket line is planned for the evening of April 12, Schildmeier said. The parties haven't given up on reaching an agreement and a mediator is involved.
"The conversation is ongoing, it's just moving slowly," Schildmeier said.
The strike authorization vote occurred late last week, with the MNA saying Tufts nurses had been in talks with management for a new contract since April 2016. The contract for Tufts' 1,200 union nurses expired July 30, 2016. MNA cited what they say are key issues like understaffing throughout the hospital and the use of reassignment measures to deal with it, high turnover of new nurses, and attempted cuts to nurses pensions.
[Also: Allina Health spent $105 million on two nurses' strikes in 2016, system says]
"None of us want to go on strike," said Barbara Tiller, a nurse and co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at Tufts. "But after hundreds upon hundreds of hours sitting with management trying to discuss these urgent issues, it has become apparent that our concerns are not being heard. For the health and safety of our patients, for the futures of our newest nurses, and for the security of Tufts RNs, overall we needed to take this next step."
Tufts management, however, is asking nurses not to leave the negotiations.
"It is unfortunate that the union is asking our nurses to consider a strike when we are committed to working with them to resolve any remaining differences. We believe that our patients and this community benefit when we have a productive, respectful relationship, with each side focused on promoting excellence in nursing and safe, quality patient care," said Tufts in a statement.
Should the MNA negotiating committee issue an official notice to strike, Tufts would have 10 days before nurses actually walk out.
Twitter: @BethJSanborn