<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=06uZSz_1H1N0vyk00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06uZSz_1H1N0vyk00" width="1000" height="750" ><figcaption>Porter Medical Center located in Middlebury. Photo by Courtesy Photo | The Middlebury Campus</figcaption></figure>On Oct. 23, Porter Medical Center nurses signed a new labor contract with the hospital’s administration, securing wage increases along with other shift and benefit improvements. This agreement, which will last for three years, comes after months of negotiations between the hospital and the Porter Federation of Nurses &amp; Health Professionals, PFNHP Local 5753, the union representing the hospital’s employees. The agreement covers 143 full- and part-time nurses, offering annual wage increases of 3.25% for the first two years and a 3.5% increase in the third. The deal includes several improvements to worker safety and benefits, such as paid time off for recovery from workplace assault, improved shift differentials, incentive pay, bereavement leave and job security. According to a union announcement, the agreement also includes the establishment of a Registered Nurse (RN) career ladder with two potential 5% wage increases.“We accepted raises that were lower overall in part in exchange for access to a career ladder similar to what most larger hospitals offer,” Finn Yarbrough, vice president of the PFNHP, wrote in an email to The Campus. “Our hope is that this will encourage the development and retention of skilled staff.”After negotiations began in July, demands for wage increases quickly led to tension between the union and Porter’s management, according to the Addison Independent. The union initially proposed annual base-pay increases of 3%, which hospital management countered with a 1.5% proposal; both proposals included further experience-based increases. Acknowledging that a prolonged standoff could hurt employees, the union softened its wage-increase demands in exchange for other commitments to workplace safety and career progression. To avoid a strike, a federal mediator was brought in on Oct. 20 for a 9-hour negotiation meeting. The agreement was ratified on Oct. 23.“Remarkably, during bargaining, the hospital administrations shared their position that there is no direct connection between the wages they offer and people’s choice to work or stay working, at Porter. Needless to say, the nurses themselves disagree with this assessment,” Yarbrough said. The union, PFNHP Local 5753, which represents Porter’s healthcare professionals, is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Vermont, a bulwark of labor in the state with over 13,000 members in both healthcare and higher education. The union representing Porter Medical Center, founded in 2013, initially represented only the hospital’s RNs, before expanding in 2024 to include more staff, creating a single entity for a broad scope of the facility’s employees. The 2026 deal marks the Porter nurses’ fifth collective bargaining agreement with management, continuing their work to protect Porter employees’ rights.Career ladders provide a framework for professional growth in nursing and are used in hospitals to retain staff. In standard industry practice, nurses receive wage increases and benefits as they gain experience. This structure promotes continued learning for employees and improved patient health outcomes.General healthcare in Vermont has struggled in recent years and was a key issue in various statewide elections in the recent midterms. With soaring costs compared to other states and many hospitals facing dire fiscal straits and budget cuts, healthcare providers are failing to meet the needs of Vermont’s aging population. The state government has previously taken legislative action to ease the struggles of hospitals and patients. The 2022 Act 167 focused on alleviating the financial vulnerabilities of rural hospitals, and the 2025 Act 68 placed the responsibility for statewide healthcare evaluation and management on a centralized advisory council. The operating costs associated with running a hospital have climbed in past years, with internal financial pressure making negotiations with the union particularly difficult. Drug price caps implemented by the state government have reduced hospital revenue by over $100 million, according to the Green Mountain Care Board. Additionally, many hospitals rely on temporary staffing to fill employee shortages at high costs. These factors have led to growing deficits for hospitals across Vermont, with Porter being no exception — reporting a $1.65 million deficit in 2024.In Sept., the University of Vermont Health network, of which Porter is an affiliate, eliminated 199 jobs across the network, including 20 at Porter. Porter’s leadership welcomed the Oct. agreement, emphasizing their commitment to nurses and long-term stability.“This agreement is the result of months of thoughtful work between Porter and our union partners,” Bob Ortmyer, the president of UVM Health, wrote in an email to the Campus. “Nurses care for our neighbors, friends and family members every day and are vital to Porter’s mission. This agreement recognizes their essential contributions and reinforces our commitment to them, our patients and the long-term strength of Porter as a trusted health care resource for our community.”Dylan McGintyDylan is from New York City and is majoring in International Politics and Economics. He is interested in community initiatives across Addison County and Vermont, with a focus on the intersection between local enterprise and public policy. Outside of the newsroom, Dylan enjoys running, playing tennis, and perfecting his mixology skills. </div></body>

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On Oct. 23, Porter Medical Center nurses signed a new labor contract with the hospital’s administration, securing wage increases along with other shift and benefit improvements. This agreement, which will last for three years, comes after months of negotiations between the hospital and the Porter Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals, PFNHP Local 5753, the union representing the hospital’s employees.

Porter nurses strike new labor deal

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On Oct. 23, Porter Medical Center nurses signed a new labor contract with the hospital’s administration, securing wage increases along with other shift and

Porter nurses strike new labor deal

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