Oregon Legislators Demand Answers To Asante’s Anti-Union Spending As Calls For Transparency And Accountability Increase (Photo)
- 09/23/26
Lawmakers question Asante’s spending as a million dollar discrepancy appears
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon State Senator Kathleen Taylor and State Representative Dacia Grayber announced this week they are seeking answers from Asante–Southern Oregon’s largest healthcare system–about how much it is spending on anti-union “labor relations” firms. The elected officials’ inquiry comes after discrepancies emerged between Asante’s federal labor disclosures and filings from the anti-union firms it reportedly hired.
In its filing with the U.S. Department of Labor, Asante reported paying $160,962 to only one “labor relations consultant” in 2023. However, four labor relations firms collectively reported being paid more than $1.1 million by Asante in 2023–six times more than Asante disclosed.
“Oregonians deserve transparency from our healthcare systems. Asante has reportedly kept Rogue Valley residents in the dark while cutting maternity and inpatient services at Ashland’s only hospital, closing local outpatient clinics, and laying off hundreds of workers, including NICU doctors,” said State Representative Dacia Grayber. “Now it appears to be spending on out-of-state, anti-worker corporate consultants, with public dollars. The public deserves to know how the money is being spent and if it’s in the best interest of the patients Asante serves.”
Lawmakers are asking Asante to explain the discrepancy and the source of its anti-union spending. Federal law prohibits spending federal tax dollars on activities related to persuading employees about union representation. Asante receives significant amounts of federal tax dollars through Medicare payments and other sources. Asante is actively using anti-worker firms in its campaign against union nurses and techs at Rogue Regional Medical Center, but it has not made any filings since 2023.
Financial transparency and accountability is particularly important as Asante CEO and President Tom Gessel has cited financial “headwinds” as justification for closing maternity and inpatient services at Ashland’s only hospital and laying off hundreds of local healthcare workers along with other healthcare cuts.
“Asante says it needs to cut local healthcare services because it can’t afford them. But federal reports show it may be spending millions fighting its own caregivers to keep them from having a voice. That’s unacceptable,” said State Senator Kathleen Taylor. “Asante needs to stop attacking workers and start working on fair contracts for nurses and techs that expand services and improve Southern Oregonian’s healthcare.”
Local ONA healthcare workers are also demanding answers from Asante. A group of Southern Oregon doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals traveled to the State Capitol Sept. 8 to urge elected officials to hold Asante executives accountable for healthcare cuts, staffing law violations and anti-union spending.
“Rogue Regional is a special place. Generations of Southern Oregon families have counted on our doctors, nurses and techs to provide compassionate, high-quality care,” said Fred Katz, RN, ONA's registered nurse (RN) bargaining unit chair at Asante Rogue Regional. “But Asante’s cuts, closures and changes are causing us to lose that connection and putting our community’s care at risk. That’s why we headed to Oregon’s Capitol: to advocate for our patients, make sure Asante follows the law and demand that our community receives the care it deserves.”
Nurses are also hosting a community town hall in Medford Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss changes in local healthcare and how community members can stand together to ensure access to high-quality healthcare in the Rogue Valley.
ONA nurses are currently in contract negotiations with Asante to reach a fair contract that improves staffing and safety, offers fair wage opportunities, and ensures local frontline healthcare providers have a meaningful voice in their community’s healthcare. ONA techs are also attempting to enter contract negotiations, but Asante has spent more than three years refusing to recognize or bargain with them–despite a federal order to do so.
Local NICU doctors who were terminated by Asante after raising concerns about patient safety and staffing are also joining ONA healthcare workers in Salem.
ONA represents nearly 1,400 workers at Asante’s flagship hospital–Rogue Regional Medical Center–in Medford.
Healthcare providers are united and eager to continue meeting with legislators and community members to ensure Asante:
- Puts patients before profits and executive compensation
- Invests in safe staffing and patient care improvements
- Is transparent with Southern Oregon communities
- Respects and includes frontline healthcare professionals in healthcare decisions that impact patient care
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