St. Vincent Hospital Moves To Replace Rest Of Striking Nurses

WORCESTER, MA — St. Vincent Hospital on Sunday said it has hired 100 people to replace nurses out on strike, and will begin the process of replacing many more this week.

About two-thirds of St. Vincent's 800 nurses went on strike in March. The hospital hired temporary nurses to replace them, but in May leaders announced they would begin hiring permanent replacements.

On Sunday, the hospital said it will begin advertising for the remaining nurse jobs this week. The move to advertise the positions came after a social media posting by the Massachusetts Nurses Association union about strike events coming up this fall and winter. The St. Vincent news release said that's a sign the nurses have "minimal interest or intention to end the strike."

Related: What's Next: St. Vincent Nurses Rebuff Hospital's 'Final' Offer

The hospital's announcement comes after executives issued a last offer to nurses on Thursday. The nurses rebuffed the proposal, saying it did not meet their demands for increased staffing inside the hospital.

MNA leaders have asked hospital executives to come back to the negotiating table, urging the two sides to meet with a federal mediator in Washington, D.C. On Friday, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Reps. Jim McGovern and Lori Trahan sent a letter to the hospital urging the same.