Oregon Doctors, Nurses Have Been Striking for a Week

Thousands of healthcare workers from Providence Health in Oregon now have been on strike for a week, following months of contract negotiations between the health system and the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) union, which is representing the workers.

The strike, which began last Friday, is believed to be the largest involving healthcare workers — and the first involving physicians — in the state’s history, according to ONA.

On Thursday, the union stated that when Providence agreed to return to negotiations with the workers earlier in the week, bargaining teams from ONA quickly sent proposals from all 11 bargaining units. More than 24 hours later, however, Providence had not responded.

“The strike lines are strong and getting stronger as frontline caregivers are resolved to reach fair contracts that address the systemic issues facing Providence like chronic understaffing, high turnover rates, and lower standards in patient care,” ONA stated as the length of the strike reached 7 days.

Specifically, the union noted that contract proposals include language involving safe staffing, market competitive wages, and changes to employee health insurance benefits.

ONA stated that it is proposing each Providence hospital incorporate patient acuity into all units as well as staffing plans to determine the appropriate number of patients a nurse can be assigned. “Nurses caring for patients with higher acuity, who require more attention, should be assigned fewer patients to ensure they can spend more time with those with the greatest need,” ONA noted.

Additionally, ONA reiterated that wages are key to both recruitment and retention of staff, “which in turn, impacts chronic unsafe staffing conditions that put both patient and healthcare workers at risk.”

Speaking with MedPage Today last Friday, on the first day of the strike, Jennifer Lincoln, MD, an ob/gyn at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, said with regard to wages: “It’s just asking to be treated with the respect that we deserve,” and being able to “continue to have amazing healthcare providers.”

At the time, she also addressed the significance of physicians striking for the first time in Oregon’s history, noting that “we have to uphold our oath of taking care of our patients, and first doing no harm.”

Meanwhile, it has not been smooth sailing between the parties representing the striking workers and Providence.

On Monday, Providence stated that it had filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association, which represents the doctors involved in the strike and is affiliated with ONA. Providence accused the union of bad faith bargaining.

And on Wednesday, Providence noted that it was offering an opportunity for ONA-represented acute-care nurses to return to work as the strike continues.

“We are sending communications today for all hospital nurses with instructions on how to report in-person on Sunday, January 19,” Providence stated. “We also have that information available on all our internal communication channels. Any nurse who has questions about the reporting for work process should contact their supervisor.”

Neither Providence nor ONA provided additional insight on the current situation in response to questions from MedPage Today.