
photo by Chris Garlock

“One of our primary goals has been to win a fair wage structure that rewards nurses for service so that we can recruit and retain nurses. I am happy to report that our new contract will ensure that nurses are fairly compensated for the care that we provide,” says Fidelis Kweyila, an RN on a medical-surgical unit. He has worked at Providence for 7 years.
Safe patient care staffing was a key issue for the RNs throughout the negotiation process, which included a one-day strike in November.
Under the agreement, the nurses will elect a team of bedside RNs to meet with management on a regular basis to address patient care issues, including safe staffing, patient handling and introduction of new technology.
The hospital is required to create a staffing system to improve staffing hospital wide, and the nurses will have a staffing committee to address staffing guidelines. Further, the agreement provides for paid meal and rest breaks to assure nurses can safety take breaks without putting patients at risk.
Pay equity was another significant concern for the RNs. All RNs will benefit from wage increases of at least 6 percent over three years – up to 25 percent, or in some cases more, based on years of experience.
Contract provisions also include a number of workplace protections for the RNs, including fair treatment with a union voice in cases of disciplines or job disputes, advance notice of work schedules, and seniority rights in the event of layoffs.
Providence RNs also raised concerns about Ebola safety standards. Providence has agreed to follow federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines on infectious diseases and assurance of paid time off for nurses exposed to infectious disease.
photo by Chris Garlock