Business & Tech

Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Workers to Picket Thursday

Workers to picket hospital as contract talks stall.

Healthcare workers at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital will stage a picket at the main entrance on Thursday, April 10 beginning at  2:15 p.m.

The proposed takeover of Melrose-Wakefield Hospital by Partners HealthCare system has workers at Melrose-Wakefield protesting management tactics in recent contract negotiations, according to a press release issued by the United Healthcare Workers union.

“In response to efforts by management to extract concessions specifically from lower-paid workers who are newer to the hospital, healthcare workers are escalating their campaign by taking public action this week,” the release says.

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The release goes on to say that hospital executives are proposing a “two-track” wage and benefit system that would compromise the future of jobs and care at the hospital.

Additionally, workers also say management is not dealing fairly with workers at a time when Melrose-Wakefield and its parent organization Hallmark Health System, along with its future potential owner Partners Healthcare, are enjoying well-documented financial success, the release says.

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Healthcare workers participating in the picket include surgical staff, patient care technicians, imaging staff, lab staff, counselors and more. The picket will take place between 2:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Thursday afternoon at the main entrance of Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, 585 Lebanon St., Melrose.


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