OREGON, USA — After 26 days on strike and seven days of intensive mediation, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence Oregon have reached tentative agreements at eight hospital bargaining units across the state.
The breakthrough came after mediation initiated by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. The agreements affect Providence facilities including "Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River and Providence Seaside," according to ONA.
"We're pleased to announce that complete tentative agreements have been reached with nurses at all eight of our Providence Oregon hospitals," Providence officials said in a statement.
Key provisions include additional step increases for employees moving to higher pay grades. According to ONA, the agreement also includes across-the-board increases for the life of the contract and increases for members once its ratified.
ONA says there will be some retroactive bonuses, though not as much as they'd hoped. Nurses will also now get penalty pay if they have to miss a break.
Part of the deal also includes setting up a workgroup to evaluate employee health benefits.
Union members still need to ratify the contract. Voting is set to start Thursday morning and end Friday afternoon.
"Nurses will remain on strike during the vote and will return to work if tentative agreements are ratified," ONA stated.
Hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center are still on strike and in negotiations.
According to Providence, nurses and physicians represented by ONA that work at the Providence Women's Clinic have already voted to ratify their contracts which were agreed on over the weekend. They will be returning to work on Thursday.
Providence expressed gratitude for "the tireless work done by everyone involved in this process, as well as those who have been working in our hospitals caring for our communities during the ONA strike."
Source: kgw.com
