Governor Calls for Immediate Negotiations Between Providence and the ONA

Salem, Oregon- Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement this morning addressing the strike that began today at eight Providence hospitals and six women’s clinics across Oregon. The labor dispute involves nurses and other healthcare workers seeking improved contracts, a situation the Governor has called for swift resolution to avoid disruptions in care for Oregonians.

“Providence wasted 10 days when they could have been at the table making progress towards a comprehensive resolution of their labor dispute,” said Governor Kotek. “We must take care of the people who take care of Oregonians – all hospital staff deserve a fair contract. Oregonians are already experiencing disruptions to care. All parties must return to the table immediately to resolve their disagreements so normal operations and care can resume.”

The Governor also expressed disapproval of Providence’s internal policy of not negotiating after receiving a strike notice, labeling it as “short-sighted and unhelpful.”

Providence responded to the Governor’s statement, defending their approach during the lead-up to the strike. According to the healthcare provider, the past 10 days were spent preparing for the work stoppage, including recruiting and training 2,000 temporary replacement nurses to maintain care for more than 5,500 patients across their eight hospitals.

“We take our responsibility to maintain hospital operations seriously,” said Providence in a statement. “Each time we’ve had a strike, we’ve needed all 10 days to prepare our hospitals to care for the community from the moment our nurses walk out. And this time it’s even more complex, because the strike is larger and there is no replacement workforce for physicians.”

The statement also indicated Providence’s willingness to return to negotiations, aligning with the Governor’s call for urgency. “We heard from the Governor and share her sense of urgency to get back to the table. Providence is preparing to continue bargaining. First, we have to prioritize the stability of clinical operations.”

Providence Medford Medical Center reports that despite this being the first day of the strike, nearly 40% of ONA-represented caregivers reported for work. “We expect that number to rise tonight” commented a Providence representative.

The strike has heightened concerns about disruptions in patient care, especially given the scale of the workforce action. Governor Kotek’s comments reflect growing pressure on all parties to resolve the labor dispute and minimize the impact on Oregon’s healthcare system.

It remains unclear how soon bargaining will resume, but the Governor, Providence, and the ONA have all individually emphasized the need for a resolution to ensure continuity of care for patients across the state.

Source: Oregon Governors Office / Providence