Nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital say they have authorized a strike over what the nurses’ union says is a refusal by the hospital to invest in permanent nurses, leading to safety concerns. 

The approximately 100 registered nurses at the hospital voted Wednesday to greenlight a potential one-day strike, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Nurses Union.

The strike may not be necessary and there has been no date set, according to the union, but the vote gives the nurses’ bargaining committee authorization to hold the strike. If a strike is scheduled, the union will give the hospital 10-days notice, as required by law. 

The nurses have been in contract negotiations with Mass General Brigham, the owner of Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, but an agreement hasn’t been reached.

“Mass General Brigham is treating nurses unequally throughout the system, leading to staffing issues for permanent nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and prompting us to take a strike authorization vote to secure a fair contract and protect patient care,” said Laura Hilliard, a Martha’s Vineyard Hospital registered nursing and nursing association chair. “We are passionate about caring for our Island’s patients and will fight for the resources we need to provide safe, high-quality care to the community we serve.”

A spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement that negotiations have been going on since March, and 10 bargaining sessions have been completed. 

“We have made progress on many important issues for our nursing staff, including offering considerable wage increases,” the statement said. “We have also discussed the high cost of living on Martha’s Vineyard and the impact it has on all of our employees, including nurses. We return to the bargaining table next week and our focus remains on continuing the negotiation process while providing high-quality, safe care for our patients. If a strike does take place as the union indicated, we are prepared to provide the care our patients expect without interruption.”  

Nurses have complained that a lack of a competitive wage and the high cost of living on the Island have led to shortfalls in staffing at the hospital. Nurses said they were also seeking improved health insurance costs so they and their families could have better access to care. 

About 35 ambulatory nurses at the hospital voted to join the nursing union in July, and they are also now part of the ongoing contract negotiations.

Staffing has been a major concern for the hospital. In 2023, there were more than 200 job openings at the hospital, across several departments including nursing. 

In an attempt to turn the tide, the hospital partnered with the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions to create a hybrid nursing program that aimed to help Islanders get training while avoiding off-Island travel. The hospital also developed a new graduate-level course for Island residents transitioning out of nursing school.