MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2026
CONTACT:
PRESS@CIRSEIU.ORG
Marlishia Aho of 1199SEIU, Marlishia.Aho@1199.org, 617.949.0270
David Schildmeier of MNA, dschildmeier@mnarn.org, 781-249-0430
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER ‘S HEALTHCARE WORKERS JOIN FORCES AT THE PICKET LINE
Tired of working second jobs to make ends meet while executives pay themselves millions
BOSTON — A coalition of nurses, physicians, and healthcare workers who work at Boston Medical Center (BMC) will hold a joint informational picket to highlight the demands they are making at the table with BMC’s negotiators.
The doctors and nurses have been negotiating their new contracts for almost four months and are frustrated by the negotiators’ inadequate proposals to address burnout, retention and recruitment. Many caregivers have resorted to second jobs to make ends meet, including working as rideshare drivers and even selling their bone marrow. BMC, a level one trauma center with the busiest ER, caregivers are pushing for critical investments to address stress and burnout and maintain quality care for their diverse patient population.
At the picket, the doctors will highlight BMC executives’ hypocrisy and lack of respect for the hospital staff providing care to the people of Boston by publicly highlighting recent financial decisions that resulted in multimillion-dollar salary increases for themselves. Since 2023, Boston Medical Center’s C-suite has given themselves raises totaling $4.56 million while residents and nurses continue to live paycheck to paycheck. Their raises total an almost 45% salary increase from last year.
WHO: Doctors wearing white coats and scrubs join nurses from 1199SEIU and Massachusetts Nurses Association, community allies, and elected officials at the picket line
WHEN: July 30 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Speaking program will begin at 11:45 a.m.
WHERE: Boston Medical Center Main Campus, Albany St. and E Concord St.
Background:
3,000 dedicated caregivers, staff, physicians and nurses across BMC in contract bargaining recently united as the BMC Unions Coalition. Together, they are advocating for fair wages, dignity and respect for the people who work at BMC and provide care to the community.
Last Wednesday, over a thousand BMC nurses represented by 1199SEIU and MNA picketed outside the hospital. This week they will picket again alongside the resident physicians and fellows represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International United (CIR/SEIU), the largest physicians union in the country.
Nearly 2,000 RNs and LPNs at BMC’s main campus and around 80 RNs at BMC-affiliated Brockton Behavioral Health are represented by 1199SEIU, and over 160 RNs and Advanced Practice Nurses are represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA).
As nurses across the Commonwealth ring the alarm about unsustainability in nursing, BMC nurses are adding their voices regarding worsening conditions and turnover. At BMC, a top trauma center which includes New England’s busiest emergency room, nurses are pushing for investments and protection to meet the demands of their diverse patient population. Management’s recent contract proposals lack the necessary investment needed to fill critical vacancies, train staff, and ensure a long-term commitment to the communities BMC serves. 1199 and BMC management have been bargaining for over five months, and the MNA for two months.
Elected officials including Mayor Michelle Wu, State Senator Nick Collins, State Senator John Keenan, State Senator Liz Miranda, State Rep. Michelle Badger, State Rep. Marjorie Decker, State Rep. John Moran, State Rep. Angelo Puppolo, and Boston City Councilor John FitzGerald have supported the healthcare workers’ campaigns.
