The agreements come after 26 days on strike and mediation initiated at the request of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek.
They cover registered nurse bargaining units at the following Oregon hospitals: 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 the ONA, the agreements for nurses include:
- Step increases each year with a new Step 30 and additional fill-in steps added across all bargaining units.
- Across-the-board wage increases over three years and increases for members upon ratification.
- A portion of retroactive pay that will be distributed as a bonus based on hours worked since contract expiration.
- No changes to contract expiration dates across Providence Oregon facilities.
- One hour of penalty pay for each missed break or lunch.
- Creation of a workgroup to make recommendations on health benefits and the feasibility of a statewide health benefits trust.
- A dedicated Aetna customer service team to help members navigate changes to employer-provided health insurance.
- Contract language memorializing Oregon’s new staffing law and other hospital-specific benefits.
The agreements come after Ms. Kotek stepped in amid an open-ended strike that began Jan. 10 at Providence hospitals and clinics across Oregon. The walkout is estimated to be the largest healthcare strike in the state’s history, with nearly 5,000 workers participating, according to the ONA. The striking workers comprise nurses, physicians and advanced practice providers across 11 Providence bargaining units.
Nine of the 11 bargaining units are still on strike, a Providence spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s. Nurses, physicians and providers in two bargaining units at Providence Women’s Clinic have voted to ratify their tentative agreements. Eight other bargaining units have tentative agreements to vote on this week. One bargaining unit — hospitalists at St. Vincent — is still negotiating.
Providence said PWC physicians, providers and nurses will return to work beginning Feb. 6.