Longest Nurses' Strike in Massachusetts’ History

Case Study: Saint Vincent

Hospital Nurses' Strike

Emily Augenti, Natasha Chen, Preyash Patel

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Charlton College of Business
MGT650 – Organizational Behavior
 Tenet Healthcare
Corporation is a for-profit
multinational healthcare
services company based in
Dallas, Texas, United
States. Through its brands,
subsidiaries, joint ventures,
and partnerships, including
United Surgical Partners
International, the company
operates 65 hospitals and
over 450 healthcare
facilities.
• Saint Vincent Hospital is a
381-bed hospital located in
Worcester, Massachusetts.
Founded by the Catholic
Sisters of Providence in 1893,
Saint Vincent Hospital was
named to honor the patron
saint of the Sisters' order,
Saint Vincent de Paul (patron
of all works of charity). 

• Incorporated as part of Fallon

Healthcare System in 1990. In
January 2005 became part of
the Vanguard Health System and
then acquired by Tenent Health 
in 2013. Transitioning from a
Non-profit to a For-profit
Healthcare system.
 Massachusetts
Nurses Association

• Founded in 1903
• Represents more than 23,000 members
• 85 Healthcare Facilitates / 51 Acute Care
Hospital in the Commonwealth
• St. Vincent Hospital unionized RN’s over
20 years ago (nurses are represented by
MNA)
Implications of • Utilizing the Theory of Job Engagement /
Meaning and Motivation – how do we bring
Organizational both sides to an amicable resolution?
Behavior • Can a For-profit Healthcare Organization
foster meaningful work for nurses?
• How will the continued dissonance between
Tenet Healthcare and the MNA effect future
negotiations?
 In 2019 contract negotiations began between
Tenet Health and the nurses at St. Vincent
Hospital – Pay & Staffing
Key Issues for Nurses:
Events Prior • Mandatory Furloughs or work
reassignments / redeployment
to the Strike... • Daily Staff Cuts
• Reports of Unsafe staffing levels - 1:5
(Nurse to Patient ) with increase (1:6)
during the COVID-19 pandemic (March
2020-March 2021
 Tenet Healthcare Response:
• Agree to ”substantial” pay increase
Events Prior • Staffing is similar to Umass Medical Center
• No change in policy
to the Strike... • No capped ratios – administration can
continue to deploy staff at will.
 After 2 years of attempted contract
negotiations – the deadlock resulted in the
longest nurse strike in Massachusetts
History

March 21, 2021 – January 3, 2022

Massachusetts Nurses Association
(Nurse Labor Union)

• Walk out on March 9, 2021

• ~800 Nurses (some nurses did cross picket lines)
• Rep Joe Kennedy III / Sen Elizabeth Warren support
• United Food and Commercial Worker join strike
• Contract expiring February 2021
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters join strike 
• Asked to perform work outside of normal duties
 Saint Vincent’s Hospital
• Response to Strike
• Replacement workers
• Hired 200 replacement workers
• $30,000/day Police detail
• Reported $40 Million spent in 9 months of the strike (Barlett, 2021)
• August 2021 - "Scale back services"
• reducing the bed number (-90)
• surgical procedure rooms (-8)
• Close Cardiac Rehab and Out-patient Wound Care
• Offer to change wages and benefits – No proposal to change staffing
• Tentative Agreement – December 17,2021
 • All nurses would be able to return to their original
positions, hours and shifts.
• Nurse Patient Ratio
• 1:4 or 1:5 (capped) on Medical-Surgical Floor.
• 1:4 (capped) on Cardiac-Telemetry Floor
• 1:5 (capped) on Behavioral Health
Contract • Two seats (RN) at Hospital Workplace Safety
Resolution Committee
• Pay increase up to 28%.
• Assault pay and other protection against workplace
violence.
• Lower cost insurance for part-time nurses.
The new contract will run through 2025 and will
include 2 years of retroactive pay.
Bitter
feelings
linger after
lengthy
strike at
Saint
Vincent
Hospital
 • The reason for the strike was not just wages – though
Recommendations Tenet agreed to the monetary terms (wages and benefits)
the strike occurred
for Tenet Health: • Nurses' concerns of safety were their Priority – safe
Listen to what the staffing ratios
• Return to work – ensuring same position and hours – this
Issues Truly are stipulation increased the days of strike
for the Nurses and • Honor, Respect and Transparency – The current contract is
Staff less than 1 year old – Abide by the terms of the contract 
• If there are issues bring them to the table for open
discussion with both sides at the table

Allow Nurses to be part of the Solution for the Care of

Patients – we are all on the same side
Patient Care
 References
• Driscoll, A., Grant, M. J., Carroll, D., Dalton, S., Deaton, C., Jones, I., Lehwaldt, D., McKee, G., Munyombwe, T.,
& Astin, F. (2018). The effect of nurse-to-patient ratios on nurse-sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist
units: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(1), 6–22.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515117721561
• Mccluskey, P. (2022). Bostonglobe.com. Retrieved from Bitter feelings linger after lengthy strike at Saint
Vincent Hospital: https://wwwbostonglobe.com>2022/02/06>business
• Moulton, C. (2022). St. Vincent nurses blast Tenet after hospital owner reports $448M profit. The Worcester
Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from
https://www.telegram.com/story/news/2021/10/22/st-vincent-nurses-blast-tenet-after-hospital-owner-
reports-448-m-profit/6136372001/
• Muoio, D. (2022). Nurses Vote to End 10-Month Strike at Tenet Healthcare's St. Vincent. Retrieved from
Fiercehealthcare.com: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com
• Patenaude, M. (2021) Saint Vincent Hospital strike likely cost over $40 million. (n.d.). Boston Business
Journal. Retrieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2021/12/30/saint-
vincent-hospital-strike-cost-over-40-million.html