WORCESTER, Mass. - City residents and community activists called "Worcester Community United" stood in solidarity with the nurses striking at Saint Vincent hospital Saturday.

The solidarity march and rally comes at the end of the 21st week of the strike, which is aiming to improve staffing conditions and patient care inside of the hospital.

The march started downtown at Worcester City Hall and worked its way to Saint Vincent.

Tenet Healthcare announced earlier this week they would be scaling back services at the hospital as a result of the strike.

Organizers said the nurses strike is a community problem.

"Because of the nurses strike, the community has come together," said Nelly Medina of the Central Massachusetts branch of Jobs with Justice. "So this has been a community-building solidarity strike. We want to support the nurses and the essential workers. This is a sign to anyone who comes in and thinks of exploiting workers that we're not going to have it. We are together. We are united. And we're going to show up."

Last week, nurses and the hospital completed two days of discussions with an agreement to continue negotiations. The MNA says talks are set to resume on Monday.