Nurses, elected officials, labor leaders, and community allies unite to demand a fair contract 

WHAT: In a show of solidarity, nurses from Providence Willamette Falls and Providence Milwaukie will hold an informational picket to advocate for better healthcare standards for nurses, patients and our communities on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The nurses—represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—are picketing to raise community awareness of  Providence’s staffing crisis and to pressure management to improve work standards that will recruit and retain caregivers.

ONA represents more than 4,700 frontline nurses working in nine Providence Health System facilities from Portland to Medford and Hood River to Seaside. Nurses are standing together to raise standards for nurses, patients and communities within Providence--Oregon’s largest health care system and one of the state’s largest corporations. 

WHEN: May 1, 2024 
Informational Picketing from 4-5 p.m. followed by a rally at the community space outside the Clackamas County Circuit Court building from 5-6 p.m.    
Speakers: 5:15 p.m.
Times are approximate

WHERE: Starting at 519 15th St., Oregon City and ending at 807 Main St., Oregon City 

WHO: ONA frontline nurses will be joined on the picket line by elected officials, worker advocates and community allies. Frontline nurses and current and former elected officials and allies will also be speaking in support of ONA nurses. Scheduled speakers include:
• Oregon State Senator Mike Meek, D-20
• Oregon State Representative Annessa Hartman, D-40
• Chris Rompala, RN, MS, BSN, CNOR, ONA Board of Directors Member at Large
• Virginia Smith, RN-BC, BSN, Bargaining Chair at Providence Willamette Falls and ONA Board of Directors Member 

WHY: Nurses at Providence began bargaining with management in October. While they’ve made progress on some lower priority bargaining topics, nurses are frustrated with the disappointing counterproposals Providence has offered for their top issues. The wage increases offered by Providence would leave nurses below the market rate and not stop the high turnover and ongoing staffing crisis. In addition, Providence refuses to commit to proposals that would guarantee safe staffing for all patients. ONA nurses are picketing to improve patient safety by addressing Providence’s staffing crisis and raising standards to recruit and retain caregivers. 

During contract negotiations with Providence, ONA nurses at Willamette Falls and Milwaukie have asked for: 
• Adding RNs for Safe Patient Assignments: Providence frequently doubles patient assignments during meal periods, with assignments as high as eight patients for one nurse, and our RNs seek safe assignments throughout every shift.
• Workplace Safety & Technology: Safety resources include security at all entry points, signage, metal detectors, and technology for clinicians.
• Market Competitive Wages & Differentials: Current wages are at or 50% below market for caregivers at the Northwest’s largest health system.
• Market Competitive Health Benefits: Deductibles and out-of-pocket max for ONA and ONA-affiliated caregivers are up to $6,000 more per year than competitor health systems.

Despite nurses’ sacrifices, Providence has left hundreds of frontline nurses working without the safety and security of a contract. In addition to Providence Willamette Falls, nurses at Providence St. Vincent, Providence Newberg, Providence Hood River and Providence Medford are working under expired contracts. The contract for nurses at Providence Milwaukie will expire at the end of May. 

Nurses at Providence St. Vincent and Providence Newberg have already held strike votes and authorized their bargaining team to call for strikes if necessary. 

The community is encouraged to attend the informational picket to show support for the caregivers they rely on. 

Note: An informational picket is not a strike or work stoppage. It is a demonstration of solidarity to Providence’s administrators and a promise to our community that nurses, elected leaders and allies are united to raise health care standards at Providence and throughout Oregon.