5K Providence frontline workers announce strike in January

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- After failed negotiations, 5,000 Providence frontline healthcare workers will be striking on Jan. 10, marking the start of the largest healthcare and first physicians strike in Oregon history.

According to the Oregon Nurses Association, after a week of negotiations, a cooling-off period, and more mediated discussions, they have delivered their 10-day notice to strike.

The nurses, doctors and other frontline workers come from 13 hospitals around the state, from Medford to Portland and Seaside to Hood River.

ONA said that this strike comes as Providence is pushing dangerous practices in order to drive up profits including understaffing critical care units.

Intensive negotiations with federal mediators started on Dec. 16 but ONA said that "it became clear that hospital management was not interested in responding to their concerns with serious proposals."

Providence sent KOIN 6 News the following letter that was sent to healthcare workers after the announcement:

Dear Caregivers,  

Today, our bargaining teams received 10-day notices from Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) detailing their plans to hold strikes at all eight Providence Oregon hospitals. Hospitalists, OB hospitalists and palliative care physicians at Providence St. Vincent, and represented caregivers at Providence Women’s Clinic, are also included in the strike notice. The work stoppages will begin at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10.  

I want to start by thanking all those who worked so long and hard to avoid this work stoppage. Since late summer the union has been forecasting and planning for this large strike in January. It takes two sides to reach agreements, and I believe our teams were fully committed to finding solutions. Unfortunately, the union was less willing to compromise to find some middle ground. We had multiple conflicting signals from union negotiators and teams in response to our proposals, when they responded at all.  

We have competitive offers on the table for each hospital bargaining unit, including double-digit pay increases for hospital nurses representing more than $12,000 a year for a typical nurse, and staffing language in the contracts that takes acuity into account (on top of our commitment to follow Oregon’s staffing law). We have addressed other concerns brought to us and included other incentives in each contract, including the contract terms offered to physician bargaining units. But, instead of working toward a solution, union leaders have resorted to another strike that will delay resolution.  

Once again, our leadership teams’ attention will turn to caring for our community during this work stoppage. We have been transparent with union leaders that in the event of a work stoppage, bargaining stops to support our priority of ensuring we continue to provide excellent patient care. 

So, to meet our commitments to our communities, we’ve secured replacement workers and identified other strategies to help us care for our patients. Those represented caregivers who wish to come to work and not strike will be welcomed to help. We will provide information on how to report for work.  

A simple thank you is not enough to recognize the core leaders and caregivers who will be stepping up to care for our patients during this time. Your dedication to our Mission and values is admirable, as is your commitment to ensuring our ministries remain sustainable. 

There will be trying times ahead, and we will work through them together. Just as in previous job actions, we expect each caregiver to respect the rights of everyone else to make their own personal decision, whether they join a picket line or cross it. It takes all of us to ensure we have a workplace free from bullying. 

Finally, we will keep you informed in the days ahead – please watch your inboxes for updates. And please know that I am personally grateful for your commitment that shines so brightly – even during the toughest times. 

Jennifer Burrows, RN 
Chief Executive, Providence Oregon