The hospital system declared that it was prepared to start negotiations with employees at its Medford and Newberg locations on the second day of the Providence hospital strike, which is the biggest in Oregon history.
More than 600 unionized nurses, or roughly 10%, chose to cross the picket lines, according to Jennifer Burrows, a registered nurse and chief executive for Providence Oregon, who made this announcement at a press conference on Saturday. This gives the hospital system the ability to resume mediation with employees at two of its eight hospitals.
“We’ve communicated with the federal mediators and are prepared to begin today,” Burrows stated. Additionally, we’re planning to schedule the beginning of the acute care nurses’ negotiations with the other bargaining units. The reason this won’t happen all at once is that we need to make sure that our ministry leaders can return to the negotiation table after taking a break from giving care and making sure that our hospitals are offering high-quality care.
About 150 doctors and advanced practitioners, together with thousands of nurses, have left hospitals and six women’s clinics, and it is unclear when they will return. Emergency departments are still open, and the hospital system, which claims to have lost money for eight of the previous ten quarters, has hired 2,000 replacement nurses.
Even during the strike, people who require medical attention should not put off visiting a hospital or medical clinic, according to union members, who are demanding higher wages and benefits, as well as better working conditions and staffing levels. According to the union, seeking medical attention does not constitute crossing the picket line.
The Oregon Nurses Association reacted strongly to Providence’s news that it wished to continue mediation in Medford and Newburg.
In an email replying to Providence’s news conference, association representatives stated that its justifications and remarks for refusing to negotiate with specific bargaining units continue to be inconsistent, deceptive, and contradictory.
Peter Starzynski, a spokesman for the Oregon Nurses Association, added that Providence has been encouraging striking nurses to go back to work, including by handing out fliers telling employees that the decision to work is theirs.
Starzynski told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they are feeling the strain of about 5,000 healthcare workers going on strike. They want to go back to the negotiating table because of this.
The nurses’ association has reported unfair work practices to the National work Relations Board, Starzynski continued.
Burrows stated that Providence respects nurses’ ability to stay on strike if they so want and refuted claims that the hospital was forcing staff to return.
Crime, public safety, and local news are all topics covered by breaking news reporter Tatum Todd. You can reach them at 503-221-4313 or [email protected].
