A strong show of unity and determination, especially during the last two weeks of negotiations, helped workers at Providence Healdsburg Hospital secure strong raises in their first union contract.
Registered nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, and medical technicians at the Sonoma County hospital will receive raises that average 18 percent over the life of the three-year contract.
The workers organized with NUHW in early 2025 and had been negotiating for nine months before a flurry of activity in April forced the employer to improve its offer, leading to an agreement.
More than 80 percent of the unit signed a “whatever it takes petition,” and a delegation later marched on the boss to deliver it. The workers also voted unanimously to authorize an informational picket, which demonstrated to the company their determination to secure significant improvements in their working conditions. Healdsburg had been the only Providence hospital in Northern California not represented by NUHW, and had been Providence’s lowest-paying hospital in Sonoma County despite serving an affluent community.
“This contract is a great first step toward winning the pay and benefits we deserve and making sure our hospital can provide patients the care they deserve,” said Donya Bornstein, a pharmacy technician. “As long as we stay united, there’s so much more we can accomplish.”
In addition to the raises, the contract includes:
- A 10 percent cap on healthcare costs, with 60 days’ notice to the union if they want to change any health plan.
- The creation of a new wage scale that guarantees annual raises as workers develop seniority.
- An additional $1.25-per-hour pay for bilingual staff.
- The formation of a clinical ladder committee to review and make recommendations on the program that financially rewards workers who broaden their skill sets.
- Protections against subcontracting and safeguards to limit shift cancellations and to prevent workers from being floated between departments.
Workers at Healdsburg greatly benefited from the gains made by more than 2,000 of their fellow NUHW members who last year won stronger workplace protection language in a coordinated contract fight across the other five Northern California Providence hospitals.
“We’re following in the footsteps of so many workers who have stood up to Providence and demanded better for their patients and themselves,” said Max Vogel, a registered nurse. “It’s exciting to think what all of us can do together to hold Providence to a higher standard for everyone in our region.”
