Boston – September 21, 2026 -- Nurses and clinicians across Mass General Brigham (MGB) will stage rallies outside the health system's World Medical Innovation Forum on September 22 and 23, escalating a labor dispute that culminates September 24 when 4,000 Brigham and Women's Hospital nurses vote on authorizing an open-ended strike.
Brigham nurses to vote September 24 on open-ended strike authorization
The vote runs from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at multiple locations. A "yes" result would empower the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) Bargaining Committee to call a strike, though no date has been set; nurses must give 10 days' legal notice before any walkout begins. The move follows a July 8 strike and a subsequent four-day lockout imposed by MGB, with the hospital system refusing additional negotiating sessions since August.
Rallies target MGB executives during AI-focused innovation forum
The first rally, streamed live via Facebook, runs from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on September 22 outside the Westin Boston Seaport District while MGB CEO Anne Klibanski speaks inside. A second rally, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on September 23, coincides with a session by MGB Chief Operating Officer Ron Walls. The forum, co-hosted by MGB and Bank of America, centers on artificial intelligence in healthcare investment.
"MGB's executives will be inside talking with investors about artificial intelligence while the nurses and clinicians who provide its patient care are outside demanding that MGB invest in people," said Kelly Morgan, RN, Chair of the Brigham MNA Bargaining Committee.
Massachusetts Democratic Committee backs nurses; Governor Healey skips forum
The Massachusetts Democratic State Committee voted unanimously on September 19 to approve a resolution supporting Brigham nurses and MGB Home Care clinicians. Separately, the MNA said Governor Maura Healey was scheduled to speak at the forum on September 22 but declined the invitation.
MGB reports $22.8 billion revenue, $2.39 billion profit in fiscal 2025
Mass General Brigham, New England's largest and wealthiest health system, posted $22.8 billion in operating revenue, $2.39 billion in profits, $1.75 billion in investment income and $35.8 billion in total assets in fiscal 2025. CEO Anne Klibanski's compensation rose 9%, or roughly $800,000, to nearly $9.2 million.
MGB's Board includes Chair Scott Sperling, co-CEO of private equity firm THL Partners; Vice Chair John Fish, head of Suffolk Construction, which built MGB's $465 million headquarters; and Vice Chair Jonathan Kraft, whose family leases property at Patriot Place to MGB.
Brigham nurses are seeking limits on temporary-nurse reliance, affordable health insurance, fair float-unit compensation and a cost-of-living wage increase. MGB Home Care clinicians, negotiating their first union contract, are pursuing caseload limits, transparent productivity standards and competitive wages; they are not voting on strike authorization.