WORCESTER, Mass. - It’s another day of picketing for St. Vincent Nurses, but on Saturday they had some company.

What You Need To Know

  • SS Francis & Thérèse Catholic Worker members are standing with St. V's nurses.

  • Tenant Healthcare has hired more than 100 permanent replacement nurses and they’re hiring more

  • Handful of top doctors at St. Vincent are also calling on Governor Charlie Baker to intervene in the nurses strike
  • Betty Ann Warner a striking nurse says the catholic groups support gives her hop 

“We want to give this hopeful message to the nurses. It's not just to the public, it's public, but we want to say to the nurses, 'You are not standing alone,'" Scott Schaeffer-Duffy, a member of SS Francis & Thérèse Catholic Worker, said. 

SS Francis & Thérèse Catholic Worker members say they’re hoping their signs will encourage nurses like Betty Ann Warner. Warner says she’s been at the hospital for 39 years.

“It’s unbelievable. The support of these people out here, that they have the courage to speak up where we've had very little Catholic support out here, being a Catholic culture, within the hospital," Warner said. "So this means everything to me. This gives me a shot in the arm that I need, and gives me hope."

The nurses have been on strike since March 8. Earlier this week, Tenant Healthcare announced that more than 100 permanent replacement nurse have been hired and they’re hiring more. The hospital also says they made what they call their best and final offer to the nurses union. Warner says her position in same day surgery has been replaced.

“I’m just putting my faith in god that I will have a place there hopefully back in same day," Warner said. 

A handful of top doctors at St. Vincent are also calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to intervene in the nurses strike. The letter says the nurses’ union is “falsely claiming a need for ‘safe staffing.'"

The union responded saying, “The nurses are anxious to get back in the building as soon as possible to care for their patients and their community and are working with the federal mediator to move the process towards a resolution to end the strike.”

Saturday’s supporters say they are hoping to gain more community support for nurses in their fight. The group says they’ve created a petition which has about 200 signatures from across the country.

“We stand with these nurses and believe their cause is just, and we should support them," Scott Schaeffer-Duffy said. 

Meanwhile, Warner says she’s hopeful the strike will end soon and she can get back to treating patients.