Tag: Issue

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – A date has been set for what could be the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history.

Nearly 5,000 frontline healthcare workers have now told Providence that they plan to strike on Jan. 10. The group includes doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from eight hospitals and six clinics.

“I think it is really remarkable. I think about the women’s healthcare workers…nurses, physicians, midwives, how we show up no matter what for patients, we show up during ice storms, we show up during COVID pandemic,” said Dr. Charlie Saltamacchia, a physician and surgeon at Providence Women’s Clinic’s St. Vincent location. “Now it has been a dramatic and drastic need that has gone unmet that has created, at times, unsafe working conditions and unsafe patient care positions.”

The workers are from Providence Portland, Seaside, St. Vincent, Providence Women’s Clinic, Milwaukie, Willamette Falls, Medford, Newberg, and Hood River along with physicians and advanced practice providers at Providence St. Vincent.

“It’s very difficult. I’m a physician, I know and have worked with many of these folks,” said Dr. Raymond Moreno, chief medical officer at Providence St. Vincent. “I know that folks care about caring for people, they’re good at it, I know that’s what they’d rather be doing…”

SEE ALSO:

The Oregon Nurses Association says its members are striking because it claims Providence is focused on profits over patients. It says it’s fighting for Providence to hire more healthcare workers to stop critical understaffing and to invest more in patient care.

“Their attitude seems to have been for a full year: it’s our way or the highway,” said Jay Formick, a registered nurse at Providence Willamette Falls Hospital.

Providence provided a statement Monday morning, reading in part:

“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. ”

According to the statement, Providence has replacement workers to continue providing care during the strike.

The full Providence statement is below.

“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”

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