MNA: Baystate Franklin Nurses Vote 100% to Ratify Contract, Securing Staffing Improvements, Health Insurance Protections and Competitive Wages

Unanimous vote caps months of nurse solidarity and community advocacy for safe patient care; agreement averted a 14-day strike

GREENFIELD, Mass., Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses at Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), voted unanimously on October 14 to ratify a new contract, with 100% of votes cast in favor of the agreement. The new contract strengthens staffing, protects health insurance affordability and improves compensation to support nurse recruitment, retention and safe patient care.

Nurses reached the agreement with Baystate Health on September 28 as they were on the verge of issuing notice for a 14-day strike. The contract runs through December 31, 2028.

"This contract and our unanimous vote represent an amazing victory for patients, nurses and the Franklin County community," said Suzanne Love, an Emergency Department RN and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "We stayed united throughout months of negotiations and community organizing because our patients need safe staffing."

"Nurse solidarity and the tremendous support of our community made this contract possible," said Marissa Potter, RN and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "We are grateful to everyone who joined us to secure these improvements. Baystate Franklin nurses are proud to have fought for our patients, and we look forward to putting these protections into place for the people who depend on Baystate Franklin."

"Unions and community members stood with Baystate Nurses throughout this campaign because we know how hard nurses work for us every single day," said Sasha Morsmith, Field Organizer, Western Mas. Area Labor Federation. "Without nurses, the healthcare system cannot function. We know that a strong contract means a stronger Franklin County community."

Highlights of the contract include:

• Emergency Department and Mental Health Unit staffing: Additional staffing in both units to address patient safety concerns.
• Health insurance: Contractual protections addressing nurses' concerns about affordability.
• Mandatory on-call: Compensation for surgical services nurses required to remain available for emergencies.
• Medical-surgical staffing: Improved RN staffing language for medical-surgical units.
• Competitive wages: In the first year of the contract, nurses will get an average of a 6.2% raise and 13% over the life of the agreement, which expires on 12/31/28. These increases will support RN recruitment and retention and help ensure safe patient care.
• Language in the contract around the use of artificial intelligence.
• A new $4.50 differential for per diems to encourage more hours to be picked up and fill staffing holes.
• Protections for communicable disease and workplace injuries.

The contract agreement follows months of internal and community organizing by BFMC nurses. In April, nurses voted 98.2% to authorize a potential strike. In June, they voted 98% to reject Baystate's "best and final" offer.

More than 700 community members signed a petition supporting BFMC nurses, and the Greenfield City Council unanimously approved a resolution backing their fight for a fair contract and safe patient care. Additionally, hundreds of community and union members filled out and sent postcards to the Baystate Health Board of Trustees. The campaign received significant support from many other unions, as well as from elected officials.

MassNurses.org │ Facebook.com/MassNurses │ Twitter.com/MassNurses │ Instagram.com/MassNurses 

_________________________________________

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 26,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association