Providence is given notice by ONA to strike

Dec. 30, 2024

Statement from Jennifer Burrows, RN, Chief Executive, Providence Oregon 

Today, our bargaining teams received 10-day notices from Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) detailing 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 a.m., 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.  

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

We will keep you informed in the days ahead.

Jennifer Burrows, RN 
Chief Executive, Providence Oregon