Largest Healthcare Worker Strike in Oregon History Begins January 10th

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Medford, Oregon- Nearly 5,000 healthcare workers from multiple Providence hospitals and clinics across Oregon have delivered a 10-day notice of their intent to strike, set to begin on January 10, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. The planned strike follows a week of intense bargaining, a federally mandated five-day cooling-off period, and additional mediated discussions that failed to produce a resolution.

The affected healthcare facilities include Providence Portland, Seaside, St. Vincent, 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 (PNWHMA) and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), are also participating.

Reasons for the Strike

Union representatives cite several issues driving the strike:

• Understaffing and Patient Safety: Workers allege that critical care units and emergency rooms are dangerously understaffed, delaying care and endangering patients. They are calling for compliance with the Safe Staffing law and additional investments in patient care.

• Wages and Benefits: Providence reportedly lags behind other regional hospitals in offering competitive compensation and benefits, making it challenging to recruit and retain staff.

• Employee Healthcare Plans: Workers claim that Providence employees face high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, with some paying up to $5,000 to access services at their own workplace.

• Unfair Labor Practices: Multiple complaints have been filed against Providence, including allegations of bargaining in bad faith, unilateral implementation of policies, and retaliation against union leaders.

Union’s Position

The union has expressed frustration with Providence’s approach to negotiations, stating that hospital management has not made meaningful proposals despite more than a year of efforts to secure fair contracts. Many workers have been operating without contracts during this time.

“Providence has failed to prioritize patient care and the well-being of its employees,” said a union representative. “Instead, its focus remains on driving profits, with executives earning multimillion-dollar salaries while frontline caregivers face burnout and inadequate support.”

Union representatives have emphasized their willingness to continue bargaining at any time, including during the 10-day strike notice period and even during the strike itself. However, they note that Providence has historically declined to negotiate after a strike notice is issued.

Providence’s Response

Providence management has characterized the planned strike as “premature” and maintains that they remain committed to reaching a resolution.

UPDATE: Providence released a response that can be read here.

Next Steps

Representatives plan to discuss their experiences during negotiations, their advocacy for improved working conditions, and their reasons for striking.

The strike, if it proceeds as planned, will be open-ended, potentially causing significant disruption to healthcare services across the affected facilities.