On May 4, 2022, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (PSVMC) leadership was notified by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) that represented nurses have voted to authorize a strike. While this does not mean there will definitely be a strike, it means the majority of union-represented nurses who voted, chose to authorize a strike as a mechanism to seek agreement on a new contract.
In an effort to be transparent about this process and the potential impact this may have on our community, Providence has released the following statement:
Over the past seven months, PSVMC has been working to negotiate constructively with ONA to deliver a fair pay and benefits package to our nurses. Throughout this long process, ONA has at times delayed on agreeing to additional dates for discussions and rejected our offer to engage a neutral federal mediator to help build consensus to accelerate negotiations. The strike authorization announcement further delays meaningful discussion, a move that only serves to prevent our valued nurses from receiving the substantial pay raises and expanded benefits they deserve.
A strike would impact all of us - especially the community who relies on us for care. PSVMC is a 523-bed facility in Southwest Portland that provides a range of emergency, preventive and specialty services. With more than 22,000 annual admissions and 3,300 births, Providence St. Vincent is critical to serving patient needs across Oregon. Although we hope a strike doesn’t occur, in the event of a strike, Providence St. Vincent will remain open, but some services may be interrupted. We are well prepared with a detailed plan, to create as little disruption in the community as possible, if a strike is called.
Providence has a long history of working with ONA to resolve differences and is doing everything in our power to find agreement on a contract that both parties can feel good about. We are committed to ensuring our valued nurses receive a fair pay and benefits package and that we reach agreement on the work environment changes they are seeking.
What’s on the bargaining table?
PSVMC put an enhanced, comprehensive proposal on the table during recent bargaining sessions with ONA. Know the facts about the comprehensive package, including substantial wage increases, more time off and many contract enhancements.
Substantial wage increases
3-year contract
Year 1: 9.5% increase in year-one for all RNs—not retroactive
- 6% market increase at every step; effective in pay period following ratification
- 2.5% across-the-board increase; effective in pay period following ratification
- Additional 1% increase after July 1, 2022
Year 2 (2023): 3%
Year 3 (2024): 2.5%
Time off/vacation
- PTO/vacation deposit of 16 hours – prorated based on .9 FTE
Benefits
- Proposal for joint hospital/union task force to review EPO health plan in 2023
- Addition of Martin Luther King Jr. holiday—hours worked paid at overtime rate
Staffing/scheduling/floating/more
- Removal of mandatory standby in low census for RNs in Labor & Delivery
- Maternal Child Division RNs not required to float outside division
- Option to waive minimum 4-hour requirement for work on site if no assignment available
- Cap of 144 hours per calendar year on requirement to float out of cluster for a primary care assignment
- New shift-leveling language for greater clarity
- When a unit closes on an observed holiday, a nurse may choose to use PTO or take the time off unpaid
- Clarified approach on how concerns about safety, technology and staffing may be escalated
- Withdrawal of proposal to increase Resource Nurse requirement
Differentials/premiums increases
- Weekends: $1.25 (for all hours worked between Friday, 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, 6:59 p.m.)
- Float Pool: $2 (replaces current methodology)
- Night shift: $6.10
- Extra incentive shift weekend: $20
- Extra incentive shift weekday: $19
- Relief charge: $2.60
- Required scheduled standby: $6
- Unscheduled standby remains at $4.70
- Standby 52 remains in place: $10/hour for required standby hours that exceed 52 hours in four-week scheduling period
Professional development
- Tuition reimbursement increased to $5,250 (FT)/ $2,625 (PT) subject to eligibility requirements
- Opportunity for remote work pay (as appropriate)
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