Astoria, OR – The largest healthcare workers strike in Oregon’s history continued through the weekend with little progress as thousands of Providence Oregon nurses and doctors walked off the job in pursuit of higher pay and better working conditions.
Nearly 5,000 nurses, alongside close to 150 physicians and advanced practitioners, have walked out of all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon, marking a significant disruption to healthcare services across the state. The strike began after negotiations between the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence executives broke down, prompting the union to deliver a 10-day strike notice.
Providence officials, including Jennifer Burrows, the chief executive of Providence Oregon, expressed a willingness to resume talks but noted that the situation had left the organization preparing for the strike’s impact. Burrows stated during a Saturday press conference that Providence was ready to engage federal mediators and negotiate with workers from hospitals in Medford and Newberg, and would soon set dates for talks with other bargaining units representing acute care nurses.
“We’re ready to start today at both Providence Medford and Providence Newberg,” Burrows said. “We’re also making plans to set dates for when we can start negotiating with the other bargaining units for the acute care nurses.”
In response to the strike, Providence has hired approximately 2,000 temporary replacement nurses across the affected hospitals. However, Burrows acknowledged that the hiring of temporary staff would come at a financial cost, describing it as an “economic hit” to the organization.
Among the hospitals hardest hit by the strike is Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, which has seen 70 physicians join the walkout. The emergency department at the hospital is expected to experience longer wait times due to the staffing shortage, according to Providence executive Ben LeBlanc.
On Saturday, hundreds of nurses and hospitalists gathered at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland to rally in support of the strike. The event saw appearances from prominent political figures, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Suzanne Bonamici, who voiced their support for the workers. Many speakers expressed frustration with Providence’s approach to negotiations, accusing the organization of failing to act in good faith.
Richard Botterill, a nurse who spoke at the rally, criticized Providence for what he described as a disconnect between the organization’s words and actions. “Their words and their actions simply are not the same,” Botterill said. “It’s their lack of action that is detrimental to the well-being and healthcare of our patients and the communities we serve across the state.”
As the strike enters its second week, tensions remain high, with both sides struggling to reach a resolution. The walkout highlights broader concerns about pay, working conditions, and patient care quality in the state’s healthcare system.
Providence executives have indicated they are committed to resolving the dispute and returning to normal operations, but it remains unclear when the strike will end or what concessions may be made to address the workers’ demands. For now, thousands of healthcare workers are holding firm in their fight for better conditions, and the disruption to services is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
