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- calendar_today November 6, 2026
New Three-Year Agreement Reached at Porter Medical Center
Nurses at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury have ratified a new three-year contract following extensive negotiations with hospital administrators. The agreement delivers annual wage increases and enhanced benefits for 143 full- and part-time nurses at Addison County's main healthcare facility.
Details of the Wage Increases and Contract Terms
The new contract provides nurses with wage increases of 3.25% for each of the first two years and 3.5% in the third year. Additional improvements were made in areas including shift differentials, incentive pay, and bereavement leave. The pact was the result of several months of bargaining that began in July, culminating in the involvement of a mediator to avert a potential strike after the previous contract expired on September 30.
Union Perspectives on Negotiations and Outcomes
Wage increases were identified as the main challenge during talks. The Porter Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals initially requested a 3% annual base-pay increase for each year, while hospital administrators countered with 1.5%. Alongside these raises, experienced registered nurses also receive an additional 2% "step" increase, bringing the union's ask to a potential 5% total raise per year for this group.
Finn Yarbrough, union vice president, acknowledged the contract’s wage increase as a shortcoming, noting concerns about keeping up with inflation and reaching parity with nurses at UVM Medical Center in Burlington. However, Yarbrough also highlighted several contract gains, including improvements to staffing, job security, and input from the Nursing Practice Council.
Expanded Benefits and Career Development
MacArthur Stine, labor organizer for the American Federation of Teachers Vermont, noted that the new contract effectively increases wages by 10% over its three-year term. It also sets up a registered nurse career ladder, with two built-in 5% wage bumps, paid time off for recovery after workplace assaults, enhanced retirement benefits increasing by 2% to 6%, and stronger provisions for safer staffing and job stability.
The contract also strengthens the Nursing Practice Council, providing nurses with greater authority to address patient care concerns and staffing ratios through collaboration with the Labor Management Committee.
Union Ratification and Nurse Support
According to Yarbrough, about 70% of union members voted on the new contract, with 80% of voters supporting its adoption. This consensus reflects broad support for the agreement’s improvements beyond wages, particularly those affecting workplace culture and safety.
Management Response and Broader Healthcare Context
Management at Porter Medical Center and the University of Vermont Health Network, Porter’s parent organization, praised the contract. Bob Ortmyer, Porter Medical Center president, stated, “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.”
The agreement comes during ongoing austerity measures in Vermont’s healthcare system, which has experienced budget cuts and layoffs due to declining numbers of privately insured patients and increasing reliance on federal programs. Despite recent job losses, Porter Medical Center has remained one of the more financially stable units within the UVM Health Network.
Source: vtdigger.org.
