Portland, Ore.

On Sunday, Feb. 10, nurses at Oregon Health & Science University voted overwhelmingly to accept the university's latest contract offer. Of the 854 who voted, 86 percent were in favor of the agreement hammered out during mediation between OHSU and the Oregon Nurses Association last week. Nurses will return to work on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

The new contract will provide the nurses with a wage increase of 7 percent the first year, 7 percent the second year, and a minimum of 6.5 percent the third year. The third year wage increases and a variety of differentials will be tied to an index of five large area hospitals. The agreement also contains increased health benefits and relationship building components.