Oregon Nurses Association Congratulates Gov. Tina Kotek On Reelection Victory - 11/04/26

(Portland, Ore.) - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) congratulates Governor Tina Kotek and all ONA-endorsed candidates who won their elections.

This election presented a clear choice, and Oregonians made their voices heard. Voters chose leaders committed to protecting and expanding access to healthcare, defending workers’ rights, and putting people—not corporate interests—first. That choice also meant electing a governor who signed Oregon’s landmark hospital safe staffing law over a candidate who opposed it, and rejecting efforts to weaken the critical patient protections the law provides.

Governor Kotek has been a strong champion of these priorities, consistently standing up to corporate interests that put profits ahead of patient care. We look forward to continuing our partnership with her to expand access to healthcare and strengthen Oregon's landmark hospital nurse staffing law, which helps ensure every patient receives safe, high-quality care. Protecting these standards from corporate influence and hospital industry lobbying will remain a top priority for nurses and other frontline healthcare professionals across Oregon.

This election also sent a powerful message beyond Oregon's borders. Across the country, voters elected a new generation of leaders, breaking barriers and making history in states where these victories might once have seemed unimaginable. From local races to the halls of Congress, voters chose leaders who better reflect the diversity of our communities, signaling a changing America and a desire for politics that puts people first.

These results reflect a rejection of the Trump administration's agenda, including policies that threaten to strip healthcare and food assistance from working families and vulnerable communities. By electing leaders prepared to stand up to the attacks from the federal government, voters reaffirmed their commitment to a country—and an Oregon—where everyone can live safely, with dignity, and with access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve.

ONA looks forward to continuing our work with Governor Kotek and elected leaders across Oregon and the country to protect patients, strengthen our communities, and ensure every Oregonian has access to the high-quality healthcare they deserve.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 26,000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses and healthcare professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all healthcare professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.

Media Advisory: Tomorrow Nurses From OHSU To Hold March, Demand Board Of Directors Intervene To Settle Fair Contract - 10/29/26

(Portland, Ore.) - Frontline nurses will march on the OHSU Board of Directors Friday, October 30, beginning at 9:15 a.m. in Elizabeth Caruthers Park outside the OHSU Rood Family Pavilion. After nearly a year of bargaining with little movement by OHSU management, nurses are calling on the board to step in and partner with workers to build a stronger, safer, healthier and more patient-oriented hospital and health system. The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents more than 4300 nurses in the OHSU system. 

Nurses are fighting for a fair contract that delivers meaningful improvements to help recruit and retain skilled frontline staff, so patients receive the care they deserve. Key priorities include:

• Hands-on continuing education and training
• Wage increases that keep up with inflation and cost of living
• Workplace violence prevention

Nurses are also advocating for improvements to retirement security, protections against deskilling and job loss due to artificial intelligence, and documented preparations for future pandemics. 

WHO: ONA-represented frontline nurses from OHSU.

WHEN & WHERE:
9:15 a.m. Elizabeth Caruthers Park, 3508 S. Moody Ave., Portland
9:45 a.m. OHSU Rood Family Pavilion, Room B & C, 3410 S. Bond Ave., Portland
10:30 a.m. (approx.) RNs speak to the board of directors (the meeting is available for live viewing at: https://www.youtube.com/live/4AXTlct8uG4)

WHY: Bargaining between ONA-represented nurses and OHSU began on November 17, 2025. Recently, they increased their bargaining to weekly sessions. Nurses hoped the increased pace would mean OHSU was ready to start making progress on a fair agreement. Instead, little movement has been made beyond the status quo. 

Nurses at OHSU take on the toughest cases in Oregon. In February, OHSU President Shereef Elnahal told the board that OHSU ranks among the top ten academic institutions treating the most complex cases. Those complex cases mean more revenue for OHSU. Last year the health system made $135 million, $81 million more than originally projected. Nurses are asking hospital executives to invest their rising profits in hands-on education, concrete violence prevention policies and procedures, increases in wages that cover rising inflation and the costs of living in Portland, and patient care improvements. 

OHSU is known for its strong focus on healthcare, research and education. To maintain that status, it must reach a fair agreement which addresses nurses’ top issues and meets our communities’ growing health care needs. 

The nurses' contract expired June 30, 2026. They will continue to work under the expired contract until a new agreement is ratified.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 26,000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses and healthcare professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all healthcare professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.

Media Advisory: In-Home Caregivers From Providence To Rally, Demand New Employer Honor Agreement To Provide Equal Benefits - 10/28/26

Providence’s private equity venture is already breaking promises to in-home caregivers

(Portland, Ore.) – Nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, home health and hospice aides and other workers from the Providence Home Health and Hospice/Benedictine bargaining unit will rally at Providence Oregon Headquarters, Thursday, Oct. 29. The frontline caregivers are demanding that their soon-to-be owner, Compassus, come to the table to bargain high-quality, comprehensive benefits for 2027.

On November 1, the home health and hospice unit will transition to Providence at Home with Compassus. The 525 in-home healthcare nurses and caregivers are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA). ONA represents more than 6500 Oregon healthcare professionals across the Providence Oregon Health System.

WHAT: Caregivers with Providence Home Health and Hospice/Benedictine Public Rally

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, from 5 – 6 p.m.

WHERE: Outside Providence Oregon Headquarters at 4400 NE Halsey St., Portland

WHY: In October 2024, Providence announced it was entering a joint venture to outsource home health, hospice and community palliative care programs to Compassus, a private equity-owned Tennessee-based company with no footprint in the Pacific Northwest.

Patients and caregivers raised concerns about patient care, transparency, and the potential negative effects on health outcomes in Oregon’s vulnerable communities under this plan. Despite a large public outcry against the proposed plan, state regulators with Oregon’s Healthcare Market Oversight (HCMO) program allowed the joint venture to proceed with conditions.

Under the terms of the agreement in the final order issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Providence and Compassus stated that “employees will receive the same compensation and substantially similar benefits.” (pg. 4, #18) However, what Compassus is offering is significantly more expensive and provides less coverage. As has happened before, ONA believes that caregivers will leave for other employers with affordable, comprehensive benefits.   

Caregivers with Providence Home Health and Hospice/Benedictine recently settled a one-year contract extension to transition to Compassus but they are still negotiating benefits for 2027.

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 26,000 nurses and healthcare professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses and healthcare professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all healthcare professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.

ONA Statement On School Shooting At Silver Rail Elementary In Bend - 10/15/26

BEND, Ore. - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is devastated by the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend. ONA members’ hearts are with the children, families, staff, and community members killed, injured, and traumatized by this senseless violence. In a close-knit community like Bend, everyone is impacted by this tragedy, including many of our own members who have children in the Bend-La Pine school district.

We are in close contact with our local members and stand with the nurses, health professionals, and first responders who answered the call during their community’s darkest day. We see you, we appreciate you, and we will support you as we attempt to treat the trauma, pain and loss this community faces in the days, months, and years ahead. 

Nurses and health professionals witness the devastating consequences of gun violence every day. It is a national public health crisis that leaves physical, mental, and emotional scars on patients, healthcare providers and the communities we care for. 

ONA and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have spent years advocating for policies which help prevent gun violence, including universal background checks, closing gun show loopholes, community violence prevention, firearm injury prevention, school safety, and expanded access to mental health services. 

Nurses and healthcare workers will not shrink from our responsibility to care for our communities during emergencies. And we will continue working toward common sense solutions which keep our schools, hospitals, and communities healthy and safe. 

We call on our elected leaders at the local, state and federal level to stand with us and take action now to stop this senseless violence and prevent the next tragedy.

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