Largest nursing strike in Massachusetts history looms

Nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital will strike this week. They're set to take the picket line on Wednesday. Boston 25 News reporter Lisa Papa spoke to a family with a baby boy in the NICU who says their stress levels are about to skyrocket. He has passed all of his tests. He's been doing incredible, growing stronger, almost full six pounds which is incredible. Stella and Brianna Scotta have spent the last 95 days in the NICU at Brigham and Women's Hospital with their son Giuseppe. He was born premature at just 25 weeks in April weighing only one pound nine ounces. I just can't imagine how we would have gotten through this experience or through this journey without our nursing team. They've been incredible. They have become part of our family. They're people that we at times talk to more than our own family and friends. To have them not be there, it's really scary for families. The Scottas say it's scary to learn the nurses who have strong bonds with babies and new parents here won't be able to work for five days. The nurses union has planned a one-day strike for Wednesday but now the hospital won't allow them to return to work for five days to honor the contracts of the temporary nurses. It's just really sad to see that they're not being supported like they should be. The nurses union and Brigham and Women's Hospital haven't been able to reach a deal on their contracts over pay benefits and working conditions but while the back and forth continues, Stella says it's especially hard on NICU families who have relied heavily on these nurses. They're the reason he is here. The nurse that helped us during delivery, the nurses that helped me postpartum, the nurses that are there every single day. They're really the ones that made the difference and they're the reason our son is alive. Luckily for the Scottas, Giuseppe is supposed to be discharged from the hospital this week but they feel for the families who will have temporary nurses taking over their care later this week. On scene in Boston, Aliza Pappas for your local station, Boston 25 News.