ONA nurses are advocating for a fair contract at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services.

Frontline Nurses are Striking to Address Record Turnover and Pay Inequities at PeaceHealth’s Home Health and Hospice Agency in Lane County

(Springfield, Ore.) – Oregon home health and hospice nurses go on strike Feb. 10 to protect their community’s health and safety, combat care delays, secure equitable pay and address PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. 

The more than 90 registered nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).

Nurses' strike will run from Saturday, Feb. 10 to Saturday, Feb. 24. There will be a Strike Kickoff Rally Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. with speakers scheduled to start at 10:20 a.m.

Speakers scheduled to appear in support of nurses include:

• Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis
• Oregon House Majority Leader Julie Fahey
• Oregon State Representative Travis Nelson
• A Message from U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
• Tamie Cline, ONA President
• Chris Rompala, ONA Chair at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center
• Jo Turner, ONA Chair at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services
• Along with other local home health and hospice nurses and allies

Journalists and media members are encouraged to attend this event to capture the voices and stories of home health and hospice nurses and inform the community about PeaceHealth’s care crisis.

Local home health and hospice nurses deliver hospital-quality care to patients’ homes—helping heal patients with traumatic injuries and illnesses, keeping seniors independent, and giving dying individuals and their families dignity and freedom during the final stage of life. According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “Home health care is usually less expensive, more convenient, and just as effective as care you get in a hospital or skilled nursing facility.”

Despite their essential work, PeaceHealth executives have repeatedly low-balled home care nurses in contract negotiations—telling them they’re worth less than PeaceHealth Sacred Heart hospital nurses and less than other home care nurses. PeaceHealth’s disrespect towards nurses and their patients has driven nearly a quarter of nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services to leave. Another one-third of nurses plan to leave if PeaceHealth continues shortchanging patients and providers. Fewer nurses means home-bound patients and their families suffer from care delays, receive fewer treatments and ring up costly hospital readmissions bills. 

Nurses began negotiating with PeaceHealth executives in February 2023 and have been working on an expired contract since April 2023. 

Nurses and allies will also picket PeaceHealth from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 and resume picketing at 7 a.m. Monday, February 12. Picket lines will be maintained at the following locations and times for the duration of the strike. PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services offices at 123 International Way, Springfield, OR 97477. Feb. 10 - 24. Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. 

Nurses are not discouraging patients from seeking care during the strike, however PeaceHealth patients may experience delays, cancellations or substandard care as PeaceHealth refused to temporarily transfer patients to other home health agencies and is relying on scab workers from an out-of-state, for-profit company.

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 18,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state, including more than 90 nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services and nearly 1,500 frontline nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center. 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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FOR MEDIA PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY:

In addition to picketing, other activities are scheduled during the limited duration strike. More information below. 

NOTE: Schedules are subject to change. Please reach out to the identified ONA press contact for information specific dates, times and locations of events.

Saturday, Feb. 10. Press Contacts: Myrna Jensen, 907-350-6260, jensen@oregonrn.org & Peter Starzynski, 503-960-7989, starzynski@oregonrn.org 

• 10 a.m. Strike Kickoff Rally
  • Speakers scheduled to start at 10:20 a.m.
• 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Nurse and Allies Press Availability on Strike Line

Sunday, Feb. 11. No Scheduled Activities

Monday, Feb. 12. Press Contact: Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org 

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by Appointment
• 7:30 p.m. Nurses Speak Out at City Council. Nurses will attend the Eugene City Council meeting to share why caregivers and patients need a fair contract from PeaceHealth to provide the high-quality care our community members count on.

Tuesday, Feb. 13 Press Contact: Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by Appointment

Wednesday, Feb. 14 Press Contact: Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org 

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by Appointment
• 5:30 p.m. ‘Labor of Love’ Rally and Picket. A special day for union members and allies to join the picket line and show their love and solidarity for local nurses on strike.

Thursday, Feb. 15 Press Contact: Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by Appointment

Friday, Feb. 16 Press Contact: Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Nurse Press Availability on Strike Line by Appointment

Additional dates and events will be shared with media next week.