Nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital reached an agreement with management last month on a new union contract, staving off the chance of a one-day nurses’ strike that had previously been authorized. 

The two parties settled contract negotiations in November and the union voted on Dec. 5 to ratify the contract, which includes pay raises and changes to the union’s insurance. Laura Hilliard, a registered nurse at the hospital and the chair of the bargaining unit, said the nurses were pushing for change to make it easier for nurses to stay long-term at the hospital. 

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.

Four years ago we began our quest for a licensed practical nurse program for the Island to help staff Windemere and the hospital. Our dream was to provide an opportunity for our incredible staff in their educational pursuits.

Grant Will Help Train

Nurses for Windemere

The state has announced the award of a $104,974 workforce training fund grant to Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.

The grant will fund a program to train 10 employees to become licensed practical nurses in 10 months. In addition to the grant, Windemere will fund $244,644 of the training program. 

Contract talks between management and nurses at the Martha's
Vineyard Hospital are now at a bitter standoff, and hospital chief
executive officer Kevin Burchill said this week that he is prepared for
the possibility of a strike.

"Everything is now off the table. We're prepared for the
worst but we expect the best," he said.