Tufts Medical Center and the Massachusetts Nurses Association have come to a tentative agreement on a new contract following 20 months of negotiation which included the largest nursing strike in state history this past summer.
Tufts Medical Center says the contract is for three years and nine months and includes "market competitive wage increases" and will transition nurses in the defined benefit pension plan to a 403(b) retirement savings plan.
“The road has been long and challenging, but through it all, we were steadfast in our commitment to providing a contract that shows our immense respect for our skilled and dedicated nurses,” said Michael Wagner, MD, president and CEO of Tufts Medical Center in a statement.
In July of 2017, nurses walked out the medical center to go on strike because of failed contract negotiations. The nurses planned to only strike for 24 hours, but were locked out by the hospital for several days.
It was the first nurses strike in the state in 30 years. It was also the largest. The hospital spent more than $6 million on the strike.
The contract will go up for a vote in January.
