BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – PeaceHealth nurses have voted to ratify a new contract that will run through 2028.

The Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) announced on Friday that a majority of union members approved the tentative agreement.

WSNA says the agreement includes several major improvements from the deal the nurses rejected in March.

Among them is an instant hourly raise of $4.25 for all nurses at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and roughly 3% wage increases in each of the next two years.

WSNA says it’s the highest three-year increases in the bargaining unit’s history.

The union also highlighted guaranteed pharmacy access and stronger protections for hospice nurses as major wins in the tentative agreement.

PeaceHealth spokesperson Amy Drury told My Bellingham Now in a statement:

“We believe this contract shows the respect and appreciation we have for our nurses and all they do for PeaceHealth and the communities we are privileged to serve. We want to thank the WSNA negotiations team for all their hard work in working with the PeaceHealth team to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that they could be proud of and support.”

The contract will take effect on June 1.