Oregon Nurses Reject Proposal, Keep Striking

Nurses across Oregon remain on strike at Providence Health and Services more than a month after they first walked out. Members at all eight hospitals rejected a tentative agreement by more than 80 percent when it was put to a vote in early February.

The union says the hospital continues to bargain in bad faith and has not made enough movement on workers’ priorities.

“We all voted it down, and I hope that sent a pretty clear message to Providence,” said Caroline Allison, a nurse at Providence Medford. She said lack of movement on improving the nurses’ health care plan was a big concern.

The Oregon Nurses Association has backed new state legislation that would require hospitals that receive public funds to disclose how much they are spending on replacement workers during labor disputes. To increase pressure on the company, ONA planned to pack a public hearing on the bill on February 10.

“They’re spending buckets of money on these replacements, but they could be spending that money instead on settling our contract,” said Richard Botterill, a nurse at Providence Portland.

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In addition to the nurses at the hospitals, doctors, nurse practitioners, and other hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent have also been on strike to win a first contract. They voted to approve a tentative agreement that includes strong subcontracting language and improves compensation.

However, these providers are not back to work yet because Providence included language in the deal that allowed them to continue honoring the picket line if St. Vincent’s nurses were still on strike. Members of this unit were surprised this language was included, but glad to have it. Some hospitalists speculated their employer included the language because it hoped to pressure them to pressure the nurses into accepting the deal. It didn’t work.

“We want to stand in solidarity with our nurses,” said nurse practitioner Jeremiah Wright.

A small group of nurses, doctors, midwives, and other providers at the Providence Women’s Clinics were also part of the initial strike. The two units there were negotiating for their first contract. They approved an agreement February 4, and are back at work.

The strikers are holding strong. Botterill said at his picket line, different departments are taking turns to provide meals each day to keep spirits up. “We couldn’t do this without support from our community,” he said. “We’re really fighting for everyone right now.”