The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence Hood River have a new contract covering about 150 nurses. Ratified in late October, it’s the fourth Providence contract to be approved this year, and three more are still being negotiated.
The contract provides wage increases of between 14% and 21% over two years, with the highest raises going to the lowest-paid workers. In the first year, workers in steps 1-10 will get a $5.15 per hour raise and additional 3.75% cost of living adjustment, workers in steps 11-22 will get $4.75 per hour and 3.75%, and workers at or above step 25 will get $4 per hour and 3.75%. The first-year raises are retroactive to April 10, 2022.
In the second year, workers across all those steps will get a 3% raise.
For an entry-level worker, the contract raised the wage from $38.51 to $45.30 immediately, and it will increase to $46.66 in the second year.
Other contract provisions include adding $25-per-hour incentive pay for working short-notice shifts, and tripling the bilingual differential from $500 to $1,500 per year.
It’s been a busy year for Providence labor negotiations, and it’s not over yet. ONA members ratified contracts at St. Vincent, Willamette Falls and Milwaukie in July. The Providence Seaside contract expired Nov. 30, and the Providence Portland and Home Health & Hospice unit contracts will expire at the end of December.
