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St. Vincent nurses head back to the negotiating table with Tenet Healthcare

WORCESTER — For the first time in eight weeks, nurses in Worcester will be back at the negotiating table with Tenet Healthcare. About 800 nurses went on strike last month claiming low staffing levels were affecting patient care.

Nurses have been on the picket lines for the last seven weeks, pushing for better staffing levels.

Now there is a step forward, as both sides will be back at the negotiating table on Monday, trying to work out a new contract they can agree on.

“I am definitely hopeful the MNA decides to call off their strike, which they can do at any point even before we have an agreed upon contract,” said Carolyn Jackson, CEO of St. Vincent Hospital. “But, yes, I’m hopeful they will like our proposal this afternoon and we will be able to move toward a new contract soon.”

A federal mediator scheduled the talks with the nurses and Tenet Healthcare, the owner of St. Vincent Hospital. Tenet is expected to present a new proposal to the nurses.

The Massachusetts Nursing Association (MNA) can either agree to that updated proposal or present a counterproposal so the two sides can quickly reach a deal.

“We are expecting something very serious and earnest from them and if they are there in the spirit of negotiating in good faith we want to get back to our patients,” said Marlena Pellegrino, Co-Chair of MNA bargaining unit. “We will do everything we can stay as long as we can and negotiate as much as we can, but the onus will lay on the hospital at this time.”

The nurses are entering their eighth week without pay since hitting the picket line. The nurses claim poor staffing levels have affected patient care and caused safety issues.

Meanwhile, hospital officials say this has been their best offer in years and includes a wage increase up to 36% for some nurses.

While the strike has been going on, Tenet has called in replacement nurses to make sure patients are still receiving care.

The negotiations between the nurses and the hospital are set to resume at 3 p.m. Monday.