The Massachusetts Nurses Association, a Canton-based labor union representing nurses throughout Central Massachusetts and the state, has named Joe-Ann Fergus as its new executive director.
Fergus joined the MNA as a staff nurse and was elected bargaining unit leader at the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston. She has since risen through the MNA ranks for the past 20 years, according to a Tuesday press release from the MNA.
MNA represents nurses at some of the largest employers in Central Massachusetts, including UMass Memorial Health’s hospitals in Worcester, Marlborough, Southbridge, Leominster, and Milford and at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester.
“Joe-Ann’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for our union and for healthcare in Massachusetts,” MNA President Katie Murphy said in the release. “Her deep experience, commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and transparency, and unwavering commitment to caregivers and patients will ensure that the MNA not only meets the challenges we face but becomes stronger than ever. With Joe-Ann guiding us, the board is confident we will continue to shape the future of nursing and protect the care our communities deserve.”
Fergus moved on from her unit leader role to serve as MNA associate director in labor relations before becoming director of member services and then acting director of the division of nursing, health & safety, and labor education.
Throughout her MNA tenure, she has lobbied for enhanced patient care and working conditions along with equitable treatment of healthcare workers, patients, and communities alike, according to the release.
“[Fergus] brings not only decades of experience within our union but also the passion, wisdom, and vision needed to guide us through the challenges and opportunities ahead. With Joe-Ann at the helm, we are confident that the voices of our members will be stronger than ever,” Murphy said in the release.
Fergus replaces Interim Executive Director Roland Goff, who has held the executive position since May when Julie Pinkham retired from the role after more than 20 years.
Fergus graduated from UMass Boston with her master’s in dispute resolution and her PhD in nursing/public policy and earned her bachelor’s degree from Simmons University in Boston.
“I am deeply honored to be stepping into this amazing role as executive director,” Fergus said in the release. “The MNA is strongly positioned to amplify the voices and power of our members and workers everywhere. This is a period filled with opportunities to organize new members, empower and mobilize our existing members, nurture and mentor emerging leaders, and strengthen relationships with coalition partners who share our vision for better working and living conditions for workers, patients, and communities.”
The MNA has represented nurses in Central Massachusetts throughout extensive labor battles.
In January 2022, MNA nurses ended the longest nurses strike in Massachusetts history at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester as they fought for staffing ratios. In March 2024, eight MNA nurses filed a lawsuit under the Whistleblower Protection Act against Saint Vincent and its owner, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, claiming wrongful termination.
The MNA has filed hundreds of complaints against the hospital, citing unsafe working conditions, and picketing throughout contentious contract negotiations.
The organization was outspoken in advocating against the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. The hospital closed its doors at the end of August 2024.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
