WORCESTER – Striking nurses voted to ratify a new contract with Saint Vincent Hospital on Monday, December 3, with 487 of 502 voters approving of the agreement.
At around 9:30 PM, Marlena Pellegrino, a nurse and co-chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association [MNA} bargaining unit at Saint Vincent Hospital, declared an end to the strike. Nurses voted by secret ballot throughout the day at the Teamster Local 170 Meeting Hall on Southwest Cutoff in Worcester.
Monday was the 301st day since nurses declared the strike on Monday, March 8.
Negotiators for the nurses and Saint Vincent Hospital agreed to the terms of the agreement on December 17 in a session mediated by Marty Walsh, the former Mayor of Boston and current U.S. Secretary of Labor.
Dominique Muldoon, also a co-chair of the bargaining unit, spoke during the ratification announcement. She highlighted changes in the new contract, including a range of new nurse to patient ratios in several hospital departments. Staffing levels were the centerpiece issue for nurses in the negotiations.
Saint Vincent Hospital nurse and MNA Vice President Marie Ritacco also spoke to acknowledge members of the bargaining committee and picket captains. Ritacco also gave special thanks to Congressman James McGovern, who she said supported nurses in this strike and the nurses strike in 2000.
The 49 day strike in 2000 established the nurses’ union at Saint Vincent Hospital. In that dispute, the primary issue for nurses was mandatory overtime. The same issue was central to the 100 day strike the following year at Brockton Hospital.
Along with McGovern, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, State Representatives Mary Keefe and David LeBoeuf and James Cantwell, Massachusetts State Director for Senator Ed Markey, spoke at the event to congratulated the nurses.
Along with staffing improvements, the new agreement includes changes in workplace safety and compensation for nurses at the hospital.
According to a statement by Saint Vincent Hospital, all nurses are expected to be back to the hospital by January 22.
The full event after ratification of the contract is available below:
