Session 19: OHSU-ONA bargaining update

Members of the Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon Nurses Association bargaining teams over two days met in person at OHSU to have confidential conversations in mediation and to continue exchanging proposals.   

Mediation 

As planned, OHSU and ONA met on Tuesday, June 20, for their second mediation session. The parties engaged in several confidential conversations, which are common in mediation. Mediation will resume on July 5.  

Proposals 

The ONA team provided four counterproposals in Wednesday’s regular bargaining session:

• Article 2 – Association Privileges and Limitations, including agreements on the number of nurse representatives and paid hours for their activities, and bulletin boards. 
• Article 22 – Grievance and Arbitration, including that any removal of a role that includes a differential would be a demotion and grievable. 
• Article 26 – Health and Safety, including agreement on a new suicide prevention program and the definition of assault, and proposals on various commitments for OHSU safety committees, Emergency Department needs, and Department of Public safety services. 
• Article 27 – Committees, including agreements on a new Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Grant Committee and education after reaching agreement on a new contract, as well as proposals on UBNPC and PNCC membership. 

The OHSU team also provided four counterproposals in the regular bargaining session: 

• Article 2 – Association Privileges and Limitations, including increasing the size of the bargaining team to 11, providing up to 3,500 hours of paid time for negotiations, visits by ONA-employed staff members, and new employee orientation.  
• Article 15 – Leaves, including increasing the current paid bereavement leave from 12 hours to three days per year (in addition to at least two weeks of leave that can be paid with use of accruals). 
• Article 22 – Grievance and Arbitration, was proposed twice, ultimately including that OHSU must have just cause to remove a nurse from a charge nurse, surgical service coordinator, or preceptor role. 

Tentative Agreement 

The parties reached a tentative agreement on Article 15 - Leaves. In addition, they agreed to extend three Memoranda of Understanding through July 24: ECNI, RSV and Supplemental Call.  

Update as at 1 p.m., Thursday June 22: (1) The teams have reached a tentative agreement on Article 22 – Grievance and Arbitration. (2) The agreement to extend three Memoranda of Understanding (ECNI, RSV, and Supplemental Call) runs through July 30, not through July 24 as was initially stated.

Going forward 

The parties agreed to have a caucus week next week; the parties will work on proposals in their own teams rather than meeting. Mediation is scheduled to continue on July 5 and will be held at ONA. Four mediation sessions are scheduled through July. 

---