Oregon PeaceHealth hospital workers ratify union contract

EUGENE, Ore. — More than 1,000 workers at PeaceHealth’s Sacred Heart hospitals in Springfield and Eugene have ratified their first union contract.

Members of the Service Employees International Union Local 49 voted to approve the three-year contract Monday evening.

It covers cooks, housekeepers, certified nursing assistants and other workers at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield and Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District in Eugene.

PeaceHealth Vice President for Labor and Caregiver Relations Debra Miller says the contract takes effect immediately, while most raises and incentive pay take effect July 1.

The contract includes an 8 percent wage increase for all service workers.

SEIU officials say the contract covers the largest group of newly-organized Oregon health care workers in nearly 20 years.