More than 3,000 nurses across six Providence Health & Services hospitals in Oregon are planning a three-day strike beginning at 6 a.m. on June 18, in a move to demand better working conditions, respect for the state’s Safe Staffing Law, and a fair remuneration package. The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) made the strike announcement as tensions over negotiations with the healthcare provider continue to escalate, having delivered the required 10-day notice to Providence facilities on Friday, as KGW reported.
Unwavering in their resolve, the nurses at Providence Medford are particularly vocal about the challenges they face, which include a staffing crisis and compensation issues. "At Providence Medford, we are facing a staffing crisis, and our nurses are overworked, offered low-quality healthcare, and paid less than the current market for nurses in Medford," Caroline Allison, RN at Providence Medford, disclosed in a statement. While preparing for the strike, the Providence St. Vincent, Newberg, Willamette Falls, Medford, Hood River, and Milwaukie hospitals are expected to bring in replacement workers to maintain hospital operations, according to KGW.
Dissatisfaction among the nurses is further exacerbated by what they see as an undermining of Oregon's Safe Staffing Law by Providence, a law meant to address nurse shortages and improve patient care. In a striking accusation, Caroline Allison conveyed to KOIN, "Adding insult to injury, it has now become clear that Providence appears to be systematically trying to undermine Oregon’s Safe Staffing Law."
On the other side of the struggle, Providence Oregon’s chief executive Jennifer Burrows asserts that the offered wages and benefits are competitive within the market. “Most of our registered nurses that work full-time hours make in excess of $100,000 a year," she told KPTV. The nurses' union made it clear they remain open to bargaining during the notice period, but Providence administrators have indicated they will only return to the negotiation table after the strike has concluded. Burrows underscored the commitment of their nurses, saying “As a registered nurse, it’s really important to me that our nurses have a contract that they believe in."
