Media Advisory For Monday, June 19: Nurses, Clinicians From Providence Portland, Providence Seaside, And Providence Home Health And Hospice On Strike - 06/18/23

Last nurses strike in Oregon took place in 2001 at OHSU

(Portland/Seaside, Ore.) – Following a week of unwillingness from Providence to return to the bargaining table, 1800 nurses and clinicians from three Providence bargaining units are on strike. They are resolved in their demands for fair contracts that will recruit new staff, retain experienced nurses and clinicians, and honor members’ commitment to patients and their communities with safe patient care standards and a competitive wage and benefits package.

Events at Providence Portland Medical Center (4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97213)

Monday, June 19, 2023 (Press Contact: Myrna Jensen: 907 350 6260, jensen@oregonrn.org)

• 5:30 am: Providence Portland nurses leave facility and join strike line, Representative Rob Nosse joins picket line (available for interview)
• 11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by appointment
• 5:30 pm: (Route/Location Change) March begins (north side of Providence Portland along 47th  St. ending at Frazier Park, NE 52nd Ave and Hassalo St, Portland, 97213) *See attached map
• 6:15 pm: Speaker program and rally begins (new location: Frazer Park, NE 52nd Ave and Hassalo St, Portland, OR 97213). Speakers scheduled to appear include:
  • Tamie Cline, Oregon Nurses Association President
  • State Representative Travis Nelson
  • Jamie Canales, RN, Providence Home Health and Hospice
  • Nanette Carter-Jafri, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
  • PPMC Bargaining Unit Chair, Richard Botterill, RN
  • Senator Kathleen Taylor  
  • Representative Rob Nosse

Press Contact at Frazer Park Rally: Cecilee Henstrom 503 807 7176

Picket lines will be maintained at the following locations and times on Monday, June 19:

Providence Portland (4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR) – 24 hours beginning at 5:30 a.m.  

Providence Seaside (725 S Wahanna Rd, Seaside, OR) – 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

Providence Home Health & Hospice (6410 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR) – 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

A reminder to patients from nurses and clinicians:

“To all our patients and to those who receive services from Providence in Seaside and the Portland metro area: If you are sick, please do not delay getting medical care! Patients should seek hospital care immediately if they need it. We would rather be the ones providing that care, but Providence management have forced our hand and we find ourselves on the picket line advocating for you, our communities, and our colleagues. Going into the hospital to get the care you need is NOT crossing our strike line. In fact, we invite you to come join us on the strike line after you've gotten the care you need.”

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents more than 16,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including 1,800 frontline nurses and clinicians at Providence Portland, Providence Seaside and Providence Home Health and Hospice. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.

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