Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon Nurses Association met on Wednesday, Sept. 13, for the first day of three consecutive days of mediation. OHSU presented an economic supposal that needs to be accepted or rejected by Sept. 17. The supposal includes:
Wages
- Historic across-the-board wage increases of 15%/4.25%/4.25%
- New crisis staffing differential of $3/hour in qualifying units (more than 55% of RN on a unit are travelers)
- Moving to a 30-step wage scale effective July 1, 2024, that removes wait years between step increases
Staffing
- An MOU that sets minimum staffing levels in the EDs and in-patient acute care units (including oncology) that are superior to those in the new staffing law
- Provides meal and rest break relief hours
- Requires staffing plans for all ambulatory care areas
Ratification Bonus
- A bonus of $3,000 for nurses holding an FTE of 0.5 or higher and $1,500 for resource nurses and nurses holding an FTE of less than 0.5
Additional agreements
OHSU also provided proposals agreeing to:
- Remove Labor and Delivery (L&D) as a mandatory call unit
- Transition current cross trained nurses in L&D and MBU to float pool positions at their same FTE
- Allow grievances for terminations during the trial service period for allegations related to discrimination and harassment
- Limitations on the temporary assignment language so it cannot be used for temporary work location changes and to provide a limit on the length of temporary assignments
The parties reached tentative agreement on Article 27 (committees).
ONA provided a responsive wage supposal at the end of the day with no movement on base wages and little movement in other areas.
Going forward
Mediation will continue Sept. 14 and 15.