St. Vincent nurses reject effort to disband union that led historic strike

Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester have rejected an effort to disband their union.

Workers voted 302-133 to continue to be represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union said Monday.

The vote came just two months after nurses ended a 10-month strike — the longest walkout by nurses in Massachusetts history.

“The honor and integrity of our union is strong, as the St. Vincent nurses have reaffirmed our right to maintain a powerful voice in our advocacy for our patients and our work life,” said Marlena Pellegrino, a longtime nurse and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit, with the union in a statement.

The hospital said in a statement it respects the decision. "St. Vincent holds its nurses in the highest esteem and remains committed retaining and attracting high quality nursing talent," the hospital said.

A nurse hired during the strike had led the decertification effort. He told WBUR he thought the union was dividing workers. The effort had received aid from the National Right to Work Defense Fund, a Virginia nonprofit that has fought unions across the country.