Tufts Medical Center: ‘ We ’ re Ready ’ If Nurses Strike Wednesday

BOSTON (CBS) — Officials at Tufts Medical Center said they are prepared in the event that nurses go through with their planned strike on Wednesday.
“We have all the resources we need… to take care of all our patients,” Chief Nursing Officer Terry Hudson-Jinks, RN, said at a press conference Monday morning.
The one-day strike is a protest of what the Massachusetts Nurses Association says are the hospital’s “safety issues.” They’re asking for more nurses, wage improvements, and pension protections for the 1,200 nurses they represent at the hospital.
It could be the first strike at a major hospital in Boston in more than 30 years.

.@TuftsMedicalCtr addressing potential nurse strike Wednesday. Tufts MC CEO called it "unthinkable" MNA would take nurses out on strike pic.twitter.com/1gt2ZrtoFy
— Nick Giovanni (@NickGNews) July 10, 2017

Barbara Tiller, a nurse co-chair of the union negotiating team, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030’s Carl Stevens there are three major unresolved issues with the hospital.
“Staffing, wages, and an adequate retirement package,” said Tiller, who has been a nurse at Tufts for 27 years.
Tufts Medical Center CEO Michael Wagner, MD, however, says the only issue is money.
“They believe that they can hold Tufts Medical Center hostage for more money,” Dr. Wagner said at the press conference. “Money that our organization simply does not have.”
Dr. Michael Wagner,...

Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - July 10, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Health Heard On WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Local Syndicated Local Watch Listen Carl Stevens Massachusetts Nurses Association Nick Giovanni Nurse Strike Tufts Medical Center Source Type: news