FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2,2024
First non-RN contract for ONA
Columbus, Ohio – After six months of negotiations, respiratory therapists (RTs) at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC), a local union of the ONA and AFT, ratified their first contract with OSUWMC on July 1. This is the first non-RN contract for ONA.
“Our contract corrects years of internal inequities in our compensation that have hurt our ability to retain excellent colleagues,” said Paul Gibney, RT at OSU East Hospital and local union Vice President. “We are confident that this contract will help retain and recruit experienced RTs to OSU so that we can continue to provide safe, sustainable patient care to all of our patients.”
The newly ratified agreement includes several key provisions:
- The creation of a safe staffing committee that gives RTs a voice to advocate for their patients and themselves
- A new, equitable pay scale based on years of experience, that will help retain OSUWMC’s current RTs and recruit new ones.
- Securing important working conditions related to the scheduling process to promote a good work-life balance for RTs.
“Our contract’s Safe Staffing Committee will allow RTs to advocate for our patients’ needs. We look forward to ensuring that we maintain our high standards of respiratory care throughout our contract” said Julie Barnes, RT, President of the Ohio State Respiratory Therapists Organization.
“Bringing the rest of the frontline healthcare team into our union is a historical feat,” Rick Lucas, BSN, RN, CCRN, ONA President and Executive Director. “By having the RTs in our union, we’ve become even stronger in our fight for patient and worker safety at OSUWMC and all Ohio hospitals.”
The RT contract is effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027.
The 130 RTs unionized in August 2023 to have union support to negotiate for better working conditions and equitable wages.
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About ONA
Formed in 1904, the Ohio Nurses Association is a powerful network of nurses and health professionals. Our mission is to unite and empower nurses and health professionals, championing their rights, promoting professional practice, and advocating for quality care for all patients in Ohio, while fostering a strong and cohesive professional union community. To learn more or to become a member of the Ohio Nurses Association, visit www.ohnurses.org.
Contact: Michelle Day
Director of Communications & Technology
mday@ohnurses.org