Glenn Vaagen, myCentralOregon.com, May 9, 2011 Prineville - In a unanimous vote late last week, the 34 Pioneer Memorial Hospital nurses decided to approve a first ever labor contract. "We are thrilled that the nurses felt this contract met their needs and that we were able to reach an agreement that is fair to them and to Saint Charles Health System," said Katy Vitcovich, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Saint Charles. "Both negotiating teams worked so hard to reach this successful outcome and we very much appreciate all those who were involved in the process." ... Pioneer

Bend Bulletin, May 7, 2011 Nurses at Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville approved a new labor contract Friday that will allow them the same health and welfare benefits package as all other Saint Charles Health System caregivers. The new three-year contract, approved in a unanimous vote, will also provide the 34 nurses with wage increases in the first year.

KBND, May 6, 2011 Nurses at Prineville’s Pioneer Memorial Hospital approved their new contract. All those that voted Thursday ratified the agreement with Saint Charles Healthcare. For two years, the two sides have failed to reach an agreement, but now they have one. CEO Bob Gomes is happy: “I'm excited for our nurses. They've been through a lot of ups and down over the last two years. They're excited to get this behind them and to be appropriately compensated for the work they're doing.” The new three year contract offers pay increases and puts all Saint Charles employees on the same benefits package.

Glenn Vaagen, myCentralOregon.com, May 4, 2011 Prineville - Saint Charles Health Systems and the Oregon Nurses Association announced Tuesday a tentative contract agreement for the 34 nurses at Pioneer Memorial hospital in Prineville. "It was a long process and a lot of work, and I want to give a lot of kudos to our nurses and our management team for sticking in there and just coming to an agreement that I think is a win-win, not only for both of us but for our patients," said Bob Gomes, Pioneer Memorial Hospital CEO. ... Saint

Glenn Vaagen, myCentralOregon.com, January 12, 2011 Bend - Saint Charles Health System and the Oregon Nurses Association have announced a tentative agreement on a three-year contract for nurses in Redmond. Tuesday's announcement wraps over two months of negotiations, in which a federal mediator was used to help both sides reach a consensus on wages and premium pay. Katy Vitcovich, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Saint Charles, told KBNW News they are pleased with the outcome. ... Saint

KBND, January 12, 2011 The 125 nurses at Saint Charles-Redmond have reached a tentative contract agreement with the hospital. “We feel really good about it. This was a group effort, very tough decisions at time. We are in a tough economy. There is a certain amount that the hospital can do as far as wages and benefits and still be good stewards of the dollars that we have for the community.” If the nurses ratify it, Katy Vitcovich of Saint Charles says it will give nurses a 1% increase the first year and 2% the second and third years of the contract. Allison Hamway of the Oregon Nurses Association says this latest bargaining session was particularly difficult. ... Saint

Erin Mills, East Oregonian, January 7, 2011 Good Shepherd Medical Center nurses voted Tuesday to approve a contract agreement with hospital management, marking the end of an emotional contract dispute. “We wish to extend our gratitude for all the support nurses received from coworkers at the hospital, local businesses and community members,” said Becky McCay, labor relations representative for the Oregon Nurses Association. The nurses won victories on points they were most passionate about. ... Hospital

Bill Graves, The Oregonian, July 20, 2009 Randi Weingarten, one of the nation's top labor leaders as head of the 1.4 million-strong American Federation of Teachers, was in Portland on Monday to help settle a conflict with one of the union's Oregon affiliates. The AFT on July 7 removed three senior officers and the 17-member local executive board of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5017 and seized the local's finances through a "protective order." The AFT has charged that local leaders violated union bylaws by meeting in July and improperly using dues money to promote a move to sever from the teachers union. ... Labor

Nurse.com, July 13, 2009 Oregon’s first hospital to receive Magnet designation, Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center in Portland, has received redesignation for the distinction in nursing excellence. “This is an exciting day for the outstanding team of nurses we have at Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center,” said Martie Moore, RN, chief nurse executive. “The redesignation exemplifies the exceptional care we offer our patients.” Providence Saint Vincent first received Magnet designation in 2000.

Associated Press, July 8, 2009 The American Federation of Teachers has taken over the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and dismissed its leaders. A teachers federation healthcare officer, Anne Goodman, cited concern that some local leaders were jeopardizing union members' interests. The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals represents 3,000 health care workers in Oregon and Washington. It is part of AFT Healthcare, which is an AFT affiliate. The teachers federation cited concerns over the affiliate's use of union dues and a possible attempt to leave the larger organization. ... Teachers

American Federation of Teachers, July 10, 2009 Upcoming contract negotiations will take place during one of the toughest economic climates in a generation. Recent actions by a few OFNHP leaders had jeopardized the union's ability to negotiate the best possible contract for its members. These actions included violating the democratic rights of members and constitutional procedures of OFNHP and the expenditure of funds for union activities outside of the budget and without proper Executive Board approval. On Tuesday, the AFT initiated a protective order and placed OFNHP under an emergency administratorship. ... OFNHP

Rebecca Vesely, Modern Healthcare, July 8, 2009 A union representing 3,000 nurses and other healthcare workers in Oregon and southern Washington state has been placed under an emergency protective order, and the top officers removed. The American Federation of Teachers forced out the president and other officers of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, an affiliate, amid allegations that member dues were being used improperly to switch the union's affiliation and change bargaining status, according to the AFT. Kaiser Permanente is the workers' primary employer, but about 150 members are employed at Providence Milwaukie (OR) Hospital. ... Officers

Daily Labor Report, July 8, 2009 The American Federation of Teachers July 7 removed the top officers and put its affiliate Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals under a temporary administratorship, an AFT spokesman told BNA July 8. The international took over the 3,000-member union's functions and finances through a “protective order” to prevent the erosion of members' bargaining status, contractual protections, and democratic rights, according to a union statement. This is only the fourth time in its 93-year history that the AFT has placed a local under a temporary administratorship, the union said. ... AFT

April Baer, Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 8, 2009 Portland - A dispute is brewing within a union that represents 3000 nurses in the Portland metro area. The Union is the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, which speaks for about 3000 nurses - most of whom work for Kaiser Permanente. It's part of the American Federation of Teachers, and AFT has now relieved 20 officials of their union duties. AFT says the local officers violated terms of the union constitution, and indicated some members were interested in changing their organization affiliation, and may have spent some union money toward that effort. ... Union

For Only Fourth Time in Its 93-Year History AFT Finds It Necessary to Suspend Local Officers for Putting Members’ Contracts in Jeopardy, Violating Fiduciary Responsibility and Engaging in Undemocratic Practices. OFNHP Now Operating Under a Temporary Administratorship. Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, July 7, 2009 Portland - The American Federation of Teachers removed the top officers of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), including President Kathy Geroux, and AFT Healthcare took over the union’s functions and finances through a “protective order” ... AFT