Therapists, case managers, nurses, and other staff at Columbia Wellness ratified a new contract with raises and new protections against artificial intelligence (AI).
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 11 represents around 115 workers at the behavioral health nonprofit, which provides therapy, addiction treatment, school-based counseling, a 24/7 crisis and detox facility, and mobile crisis response in Cowlitz and Grays Harbor counties.
Under the new contract, the lowest paid workers now start at $17.99 per hour. Washington’s current minimum wage is $16.66 and increases to $17.13 on Jan. 1. Peer support workers now start at $20.26 per hour. Licensed counselors and therapists start at $37.95. And nurses in the detox center start at $55.82.
All workers got raises of 2.5% plus $1.50 per hour in October, after the contract was ratified by members. They’ll get 2.25% plus $1.25 in October 2026 and 2% plus $1 in October 2027.
The new contract regains shift differentials that the unit gave up six years ago: $1.15 per hour for swing shift and $2.15 for night shift. It also gives a 5% wage increase for workers in the most high-intensity roles, like in the crisis center, and increases on-call pay.
The contract runs through Sept. 30, 2028.
