Providence Women’s Clinic Providers and Nurses Reach Tentative Agreement

Portland, Oregon- Providers and registered nurses (RNs) at Providence Women’s Clinic have reached a tentative agreement (TA) with Providence Health, marking a critical milestone in contract negotiations. Both sides remark that the development underscores the potential for fair resolutions when healthcare employers engage in good-faith negotiations and address the concerns of their caregiving workforce.

The agreement represents the first-ever contracts for both providers and RNs at the clinic. ONA says it secures essential rights standard in union agreements, including leave protections, seniority recognition, union representation, and a formal grievance process.

Dr. Charlie Saltalamacchia emphasized the importance of the achievement while calling for continued efforts in other ongoing negotiations. “Our members have made significant sacrifices to stand up for fair wages, safe staffing, and the ability to provide quality care to their patients,” Saltalamacchia stated. “This agreement at Providence Women’s Clinic proves that solutions are within reach when Providence negotiates in good faith and prioritizes investment in their most valuable asset: their caregivers. The same commitment to fair bargaining must be extended to all remaining negotiations so that every caregiver can return to work with dignity and respect.”

Key Provisions for Nurses and Providers

For RNs, the agreement includes the following provisions:

• A 25-step wage scale based on years of experience, resulting in 4% to 20% pay increases for most RNs.

• Across-the-board (ATB) raises in the second year of the contract.

• Additional compensation for evening shifts, precepting, and per diem work.

• More than double the current funding for professional development.

• A new clinical ladder with significant pay increases at advanced levels.

• Ratification bonuses for all currently employed RNs.

Providers also achieved several key advancements:

• Industry-leading protections for physician time and competitive incentives for additional work.

• Wage increases of 7.5% to 15% for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs).

• Increased professional development funds for APPs.

• New procedures to ensure accurate leave bank deductions.

Solidarity and Next Steps

The tentative agreement is seen as a significant step forward, but ongoing mediation continues for other Providence healthcare workers.

The ratification vote for the tentative agreement will open on Monday, February 3, and close on Tuesday, February 4, at 7 p.m. Caregivers at Providence Women’s Clinic remain hopeful that continued negotiations will yield fair contracts for all healthcare workers at Providence Health.