The Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United represents approximately 2,000 registered nurses from UMass Memorial Hospital and UMass Medical School Campus Hospital. UMass officials and the union have been in an impasse over a new union contract, according to the report.
Union officials said negotiations began in February 2012 for Campus Hospital nurses and in November 2011 for Memorial Hospital nurses. The next negotiating sessions for each group of nurses are scheduled for April 12 and April 17, respectively.
The union is prepared to protest what it considers to be “poor patient care conditions, a lack of resources and untenable patient loads following more than six layoffs involving hundreds of RNs and support staff over the last two years,” according to the report.
If the nurses vote to authorize a strike, they must give UMass 10 days of notice.
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