Baystate Franklin Nurses Decry Layoffs Amid Contract Standoff
The removal of long-term staff across 22 departments at Baystate Franklin Medical Center has sparked a sharp rebuke from the nursing union. Following this week's workforce reductions, registered nurses are warning that the cuts—which include the elimination of evening patient transport services—threaten the stability of local healthcare delivery.
Registered nurses represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) argue that the layoffs compromise the facility's ability to function effectively. Co-Chairs Suzanne Love and Marissa Potter emphasized the loss of institutional knowledge, noting that many of the affected employees had served the community for decades. The reduction in force, which extended to the hospital's information technology department, coincides with a period of intense labor negotiations.
Nurses are currently pushing for a new contract centered on retention, safe staffing levels, and affordable insurance. Tensions reached a breaking point on June 10, when 98% of the nursing staff rejected a contract proposal from Baystate Health. Critics of the administration point to CEO Peter Banko’s compensation, which sits in the seven-figure range, as a point of contention while the system eliminates support roles. Union leadership maintains that resources should prioritize frontline care and the preservation of local services over executive pay and broader system investments.
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