St. Charles Bend nurses ratify contract, securing wage increase
Campbell Porter
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Registered nurses at St. Charles Bend voted overwhelmingly to ratify a two-and-a-half year contract agreement on Thursday, Feb. 19. The deal provides a 7.5% wage increase for frontline caregivers over the next 30 months.
The agreement with the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) extends through June 30, 2029. It aims to stabilize the health care safety net for a facility that serves as the only Level II trauma center east of the Cascades, covering patients across Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and Washington
The new agreement builds on a 2023 contract that focused on rising costs, caregiver recruitment and trust between staff and management. In addition to general wage increases, the contract establishes pay equity for nurse case managers and transfer center staff. These employees will now be placed on the same salary scale as their nursing colleagues.
Rosa Brock is a registered nurse and serves as the ONA executive team chair at St. Charles Bend. She said the agreement resulted from treating nurses as essential collaborators in the hospital’s operations.
“This agreement shows what’s possible when nurses are treated as strategic partners,” Brock said. “Working together we found a way to build on our successes, continue raising health care standards and ensure our community has a stable health care system with nurses they know they can rely on.”
Brock noted that improved staffing levels from previous agreements have allowed caregivers to focus more on individual patient needs.
The facility serves as a regional hub for medical care. As the only Level II trauma center east of the Cascades, St. Charles Bend nurses treat patients from Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon and parts of Washington Union leaders said contract certainty was a priority given recent economic shifts in the area.
David Hilderbrand is a registered nurse and the ONA vice-chair at St. Charles Bend. He highlighted the importance of a stable nursing workforce amid rising local costs.
“A lot of our neighbors are struggling. Housing costs are up, the tourist industry is hurting and people are having trouble getting access to basic health care,” Hilderbrand said. “This contract stabilizes our community’s safety net. Your nurses aren’t going anywhere.”
Nurses and hospital management have also established a labor management committee to address health and safety concerns between formal bargaining sessions. The ONA represents more than 1,200 registered nurses at the Bend hospital. The organization also represents providers at St. Charles locations in Prineville and Redmond, as well as staff in home health and hospice services.
The new contract is scheduled to run through June 30, 2029. Nurses and management plan to use their joint committee to address ongoing health and safety issues as they arise throughout the duration of the agreement.