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Thousands of frontline nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners, midwives and other providers are gearing up for a historic strike against Providence Health & Services—Oregon’s largest healthcare company. The health professionals are set to hit the picket line on Jan. 10. Caregivers are demanding solutions to critical issues like dangerous understaffing, patient safety and fair wages.
This historic action spans multiple Providence facilities, including Providence Portland, Seaside, St. Vincent, Providence Women’s Clinic, Milwaukie, Willamette Falls, Medford, Newberg and Hood River. Physicians and advanced practice providers at Providence St. Vincent, represented by the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association are also part of this action.
Despite relentless efforts by members of the Oregon Nurses Association to negotiate a fair contract, Providence continues to fall short, jeopardizing both caregiver well-being and patient safety. Caregivers are fighting for agreements that comply with Oregon’s staffing law, ensure competitive wages and benefits to recruit and retain skilled staff.
Recent surveys highlight growing frustration among Oregonians with Providence's services. Patients cited issues ranging from long waits for emergency and urgent care, difficulty scheduling appointments, not having enough time with providers, and high or unexpected bills. Patients and providers agree on solutions, according to the survey. When asked for ways to improve care and avoid repeating negative experiences with Providence, patients consistently recommend adding frontline staff to improve care, reduce waits and give patients more time with their providers. Patients also consistently praised the frontline nurses, healthcare providers and staff at Providence for their care, support and compassion, recognizing them as the main source of their positive experiences.
As the strike date approaches, ONA has urged elected officials to step in, condemning Providence’s illegal refusal to bargain and citing the risks to patient safety. The union has also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, demanding that Providence return to the negotiating table in order to reach a fair agreement.
[Adrienne Coles, ONA press release]