Nurses at Framingham Union Hospital Vote in Favor of Unionization

FRAMINGHAM - UPDATE: 1/12/24 AT 10:25 A.M.: MetroWest Medical Center has released the following statement in the wake of nurses at Framingham Union Hospital voting to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association on Wednesday: "We value our nurses and respect their decision to be represented by the MNA.  We intend to bargain in good faith once the union is certified by the National Labor Relations Board.”

The rest of the original story can be found below.

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Framingham Union Hospital nurses have voted in favor of forming a union.

Nurses at the hospital, which is a part of MetroWest Medical Center, approved the motion to join the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) by a 188 to 37 tally on Wednesday, January 10. The MNA is the largest union for registered nurses in the state. After 278 nurses initiated the process of seeking union representation back in September, the MNA is now primed to represent the medical professionals in collective bargaining. The MNA did note that the results still need certification from the National Labor Relations Board.

Nurses such as Kelley Cutler—who works on the med surgeon telemetry floor at MetroWest Medical Center and who has been a part of the organization for seven years—have expressed concerns related to pay scales, safety for patients as well as workers, and staff retention as motivation behind their efforts in supporting a union.

“I really think a union would help with these things and help retain good, experienced nurses, and also have the ability to onboard more nurses that will want to stay at the hospital and make it a safer and better place,” Cutler said in an interview with The Frame prior to Wednesday’s vote.

President of the MNA Katie Murphy accused Tenet Healthcare Corp.—the Texas-based company that operates MetroWest Medical Center—of “trying to strip nurses of their right to vote” and purposely delaying the union election back in November. The Framingham City Council also unanimously moved prior to the turn of the new year to call on Tenet to permit the vote.

MetroWest Medical Center CEO John Whitlock and CEO for Tenet’s Massachusetts market Carolyn Jackson will both be attending the upcoming City Council meeting on January 16.