About FlashAlert on Twitter:
FlashAlert utilizes the free service Twitter to distribute emergency text messages. While you are welcome to register your cell phone text message address directly into the FlashAlert system, we recommend that you simply "follow" the FlashAlert account for Oregon Nurses Assn. by clicking on the link below and logging in to (or creating) your free Twitter account. Twitter sends messages out exceptionally fast thanks to arrangements they have made with the cell phone companies.
Click here to add Oregon Nurses Assn. to your Twitter account or create one.
@OregonNurses
Oregon Nurses Association Statement on Negotiations with Providence Medford
Medford, Ore. - On Tuesday, November 19 nurses from Providence Medford once again met for negotiations with hospital management. Coming off a unifying rally on Monday, the nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association came to make a deal. But Providence executives failed to show up with a serious offer. Instead, its salary proposal was worth less than what was offered to nurses in May and is much lower than what Rogue Regional offers its nurses.
From the minute the session started it was clear that Providence was not serious about treating its nurses with respect. It has repeatedly shown that it is not serious about maintaining a hospital that cares for patients in Medford, and it is not serious about following its mission to serve all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
As a $29 billion corporation who pays its CEO more than $11 million a year, Providence is choosing to shortchange its frontline caregivers. It routinely chooses profits over patients by failing to recruit and retain the backbone of its workforce - nurses. Reports are that more than a dozen nurses have left Providence Medford in just the last couple weeks. Patients need to know that if it was just about the money, nurses would take their skills down the road to Rogue Regional.
Nurses have repeatedly watched Providence break its promise to “know me, care for me, ease my way.” Now they are saying “enough.” In the coming week, nurses will hold emergency meetings to discuss their course of action. Nothing is off the table.
The entire Medford community needs to know that all of this could be over if hospital executives would come to the table with a fair and competitive offer.
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) represents a diverse community of more than 20,000 nurses, and health care professionals throughout Oregon. Together, we use our collective power to advocate for critical issues impacting patients, nurses, and health care professionals including a more effective, affordable and accessible healthcare system; better working conditions for all health care professionals; and healthier communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.
###