Providence Nurses Picket Again Following Last Year’s History-Making Strike

• Less than one year after holding the largest nurses strike in Oregon history, Providence nurses are returning to the picket line. 
• Physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives are joining the strike this time around. 
• Providence officials halted contract negotiations once they were notified of the intent to strike. 

Less than one year after holding the largest nurses strike in state history, Oregon nurses have once again returned to the picket line. But this time, they aren’t alone. 

“For the first time in our state’s history, frontline nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives throughout the Providence [health] system have voted to stand together to win fair contracts that will give patients more time with their doctors and healthcare providers; promote safe staffing; end cuts to employees’ healthcare; and provide competitive wages and benefits to recruit and retain essential frontline nurses and caregivers,” wrote Anne Tan Piazza, Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) executive director, in a Jan. 2 letter to elected officials. 

Healthcare workers across all eight Providence Health facilities were expected to begin striking 6 a.m. today, after issuing a 10-day strike notice on Dec. 30. The notice, required by law, prompted Providence representatives to halt bargaining. 

“We have been transparent with union leaders that in the event of a work stoppage, bargaining stops to support our priority of ensuring we continue to provide excellent patient care,” Providence Oregon Chief Executive Jennifer Burrows, RN, said in a statement. 

What Providence Says

Providence St. Vincent Chief Medical Officer Raymond Moreno told Oregon Public Broadcasting that no longer engaging in negotiations was a not a tactic, but a “reality.” 

“I am focusing on, how do we do this if nobody shows up on the 10th?” he told the media outlet. 

However, in the same article, OPB reported that Providence leaders want to “return to mediation with doctors and other advanced practitioners.” 

Burrows said ONA was “less than willing” to compromise in recent negotiations, and hospital representatives received “multiple conflicting signals” to their proposals. Those proposals included double-digit pay increases, language in contracts related to appropriate staffing levels, among other incentives. 

What the Union and Providence Nurses Say

ONA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Dec. 31, 2024, citing Providence officials’ “refusal to bargain,” according to the union. 

“Not only is it illegal for them to declare they are not bargaining because of the 10-day strike notice, but it is also irresponsible and not in the best interests of their caregivers or patients,” ONA stated. “There is no way to stop the strike before it starts if Providence refuses to bargain.” 

In a letter following the OPB coverage, ONA and the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association stated that Providence gave a Dec. 23 deadline “to accept their last proposals and then discontinued negotiations.” Despite the timeframe, the organizations said they responded with “additional compromises,” which were ultimately met with the halt in bargaining due to the strike notice. 

The organizations believe Providence has not addressed “critical issues that impact providers,” including: 

• Commitment to staffing and hiring based on patient needs. 
• Reasonable workloads to ensure adequate patient care and safe surgeries. 
• Improvement in the recruitment and retention of providers and RNs through equitable compensation. 
• Preserving vital services by avoiding sales to for-profit private equity firms that harm patient outcomes. 

The Bottom Line

The conflict between the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence Health has rolled into the new year, with another strike expected to begin on Jan. 10. This strike, however, includes physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners across all Providence facilities. Providence halted negotiations after receiving a strike notice to secure replacement workers. ONA called the health system’s move illegal and filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. As of publication, an agreement had not yet been reached. 

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