No strike for Tri-Cities. Kadlec hospital nurses approve new contract

Kadlec hospital nurses in Richland approved a new three-year contract by an overwhelming majority, the Washington State Nurses Association announced Tuesday.

Nurses at Kadlec Regional Medical Center negotiated for 14 months to reach the agreement, including six sessions with a federal mediator.

In October, Kadlec nurses voted to authorize a strike, but negotiations continued to reach a tentative agreement the last week of November.

The new contract keeps the current paid time off benefits for current nurses and provides a total wage increase of 10 percent over three years, with an increase of 5.5 percent by Jan. 1.

The contract also includes enhanced staffing and workplace violence language to help keep nurses and patients safe, the nursing union said.

“We look forward to continuing to work alongside all of our Kadlec caregivers in carrying out our mission of providing safe, compassionate care,” said Kirk Harper, the chief nursing and chief operating officer for Kadlec.

It took commitment on both sides to reach agreement, he said.

Martha Galvez, chairwoman of the local nurses union at Kadlec, thanked community supporters and union workers at other Providence-owned hospitals in Washington state for their support.

“Without the phenomenal support Kadlec nurses received, we would not have had the power we needed to go up against Providence and achieve a contract that supports great patient care,” she said.

The ratification vote total was not announced.

This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 12:18 PM.