Home Care Nurses Deliver Compelling Testimony At Eugene City Council Amid Strike (Photo) - 02/13/24
(Eugene, Ore.) – In a powerful display of caregiver advocacy, home health and hospice nurses on strike at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services took center stage at the Eugene City Council Monday, Feb. 12. Nurses shared their experiences caring for vulnerable patients and families throughout Lane County; discussed PeaceHealth’s nursing crisis; and shed light on the critical issues that have forced them to strike.
The more than 90 registered nurses at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
“We are the community nurses. We go out to your homes. We go out to wherever you are. We are in the South Hills, we are in the homeless camps. We’ve been shot at, we’ve been thrown at, we’ve been threatened … but we’ve also been welcomed with open arms,” said Jo Turner, ONA bargaining unit chair and a hospice nurse at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services. “We’ve been with people as they passed. We have given our hearts and our empathy and been welcomed by so many. I’ve held people’s hands as they’ve died and it felt like a great honor.”
- Click here to watch video from Monday's city council meeting. Note: There are multiple nurse speakers spread throughout the meeting. The first nurse speaker begins at approximately 34:25.
Eugene city councilors listened attentively to nurses and a majority offered their support and promised to join nurses on the picket line to help secure a fair contract which addresses patient safety and community health; secures equitable pay; and helps solve PeaceHealth’s staffing crisis.
“Thank you to the nurses who are taking care of us,” said Councilor Emily Semple. “I hope I don’t need you to come to my house, but I am so grateful that you would. I hear you can take the bus right out to the strike line … I’ll see you there.”
“Thank you for being a frontline worker. I know you kicked off a strike on Saturday,” said Councilor Matt Keating. “I look forward to joining you on the picket lines and I stand in solidarity for a fair contract, fair wages and working conditions that are safe and free from hazard.”
“Thank you to the nurses for coming and speaking with us tonight,” said Councilor Randy Groves. “I appreciate the fight you’re in. I support you and I too will see you on the picket line.”
“Thank you all for coming, especially the ONA. I totally agree that the work you do is amazing and gives you your own self-worth; but it’s also the same work that the nurses do at the hospital and you deserve equal pay,” said Councilor Alan Zelenka. “It’s the same amount of work, the same kind of compassion, the same kind of expertise and to me that deserves equal pay. Just because you’re not in the hospital doesn’t mean you’re not doing the same work.”
Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis also voiced her solidarity with striking nurses. Vinis previously attended and spoke at nurses’ strike kickoff rally Feb. 10.
“This is directly related to our loss of the UD (University District) hospital in terms of the needs and demands we have. If we don’t have that hospital we want to make sure that people can be treated in their homes where they will be safer and recover—or have a better chance at recovery—or if they’re needing hospice,” said Mayor Vinis during the council meeting. “Thank you for standing strong.”
ONA home health and hospice nurses at PeaceHealth are holding a limited duration strike Feb. 10 - 24. Picket lines will be maintained Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services offices (123 International Way, Springfield, OR 97477) for the duration of the strike. Nurses are available for media interviews Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on the picket line by appointment. Please contact Kevin Mealy, 765-760-2203, Mealy@OregonRN.org, to arrange interviews or filming.
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 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.
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.
