Healthcare Workers Vote To Unionize At Blue Mountain Hospital District (Photo) - 04/10/26

Workers are joining ONA to stabilize the hospital and improve patient care. 

(JOHN DAY, Ore.) - An overwhelming majority of healthcare workers at the Blue Mountain Hospital District filed union authorization cards to join the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) April 10. The workers include more than 120 local registered nurses, radiology technologists, certified nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, service and maintenance workers, laboratory workers, and environmental service workers who work at Blue Mountain Hospital and the district’s care center, clinics, labs, offices, and hospice services.

Local healthcare workers are coming together to gain a stronger voice in hospital decision-making, bring stability and transparency back to the district, boost recruitment and retention, and ensure local families have access to high-quality healthcare that’s reliable, affordable and close to home.

“Five years ago we had eight permanent doctors. Today we have none,” said Danielle Hunt, an ONA member and radiology technologist at Blue Mountain Hospital. “Patients shouldn’t have to start over with a temporary provider every appointment. We’re unionizing to make sure every patient has a provider who knows you, your history, and your health.” 

Blue Mountain Hospital District is a public health district that includes Blue Mountain Hospital—Grant County’s only hospital and a critical access facility—the Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic in John Day, the Blue Mountain Care Center in Prairie City, and other essential local healthcare services. Local frontline healthcare providers and staff in the district care for more than 7,000 people in Grant County and the surrounding region, often building strong bonds and lifelong relationships with the patients they serve.  

“By the time you’ve been here 5 years, everyone who comes through the door is a friend or neighbor. By 10 years, it’s a lot of family too. We owe it to them to make sure we provide outstanding care every step of the way,” said Darol Craig, an ONA member and radiologic technologist at Blue Mountain Hospital.

Caregivers point to years of instability as a driving factor in their decision to unionize. Over the last four years, the district has had four different CEOs and undergone significant changes including care cuts, layoffs and outsourcing. Like many rural healthcare systems, the district has also struggled with looming federal cuts to Medicaid funds. 

Last fall, the Blue Mountain Hospital District laid off 9 staff members, calling it a direct response to “cuts to Medicaid in the One Big Beautiful Bill” along with rising costs and declining use. 

“I love my job and I love my team. They are incredible caregivers who do their best for our patients and community everyday. But if the district keeps going the way it is, I’m not sure we’ll have a hospital much longer,” said Doris Harper, an ONA member and a registered nurse at Blue Mountain Hospital. “We want this hospital to succeed. We want it to be here for our kids and grandkids. We want it to be here to take care of us someday. We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines and hope things improve on their own. We’re rolling up our sleeves and fighting for a voice in our community’s healthcare to make sure local healthcare providers are still here in 50 years, ready to care for the next generation of Grant County families.” 

“This is personal for us. We want the best care for every patient because we know they’re grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. Everybody matters,” said Hunt.

Healthcare providers will now begin preparing for contract negotiations with the district. Workers plan to prioritize transparency and accountability in hospital decisions along with measures to increase recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare staff and ensure sustainable healthcare across Grant County. 

Healthcare workers at Blue Mountain Hospital District are the latest in a wave of Oregon health professionals who have chosen to join ONA in recent years. Over the last 5 years, more than 10,000 nurses and caregivers have voted to join ONA to raise standards for patients, expand access to care, improve working conditions and build healthier communities.    

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