Respondents also voice support for hospital’s contract offer

Worcester, MA – Greater Worcester residents overwhelmingly oppose a planned strike by Saint Vincent Hospital nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA). The community also supports the comprehensive contract offer by the hospital, according to a recent survey.

The highlights from the survey:

• Asked whether they “support or oppose the nurses union going on strike during the COVID-19 pandemic”:
• 65 percent opposed a strike, which was recently called by the MNA for March 8
• 21 percent supported a strike
• 14 percent were undecided
• When informed of the details of the hospital’s latest offer to the union:
• 62 percent agreed that it was “generous,” especially given the current economic conditions.
• 16 percent disagreed
• 22 percent had no opinion

“The goal of this survey was to ask direct and clear questions about our community’s thoughts on these issues. We appreciate the respondents’ candor, and the opportunity to share the results with you,” said Carolyn Jackson, CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital. “We appreciate that our community agrees with us that a strike right now is not appropriate, especially during the pandemic. We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, we will continue to provide uninterrupted, safe care for our patients.”

Saint Vincent’s comprehensive offer is the best proposal in ten years that addresses wages, including increases as high as 22% for some nurses and increases to differentials, benefits improvements of up to $4600 for part time nurses in out of pocket premium costs, additional nursing roles, and enhanced ER security. The offer is competitive to support the retention and recruitment of nurses.

“It is also promising to see that a majority of the community considers our contract offer to be fair and generous, and we hope the MNA will reconsider its plan to strike,” Jackson said.

The survey was conducted on Feb. 16-17 by Cence Cincotti Strategies. It has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.