HOOD RIVER — On June 18 at 6 a.m., nurses at Providence Hood River walked out on strike after months of failed negotiations. For nine months, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence had been at the bargaining table, with ONA asking for competitive wages, better health insurance and more. During a press conference on June 7, the ONA submitted a 10-day notice to strike and said they were open to negotiations. According to leaders in the ONA, Providence left the bargaining table and has refused to negotiate since.
Providence Hood River issued a statement and said that ONA representatives did not respond to their latest offer.
“Union leadership refused to agree to bargaining dates on multiple occasions. In some cases, weeks — or even months — passed without any bargaining, despite multiple dates being offered by Providence.”
Two weeks ago, Providence and the ONA met for a four-day mediation session, but little compromise was made.
“On the final day of our four-day mediation session, Providence passed comprehensive proposals over to the union at all six bargaining tables. Instead of responding or negotiating, the union served up strike notices and held a news conference.
“We hope the union will accept bargaining and mediation dates promptly at the conclusion of its work stoppage,” Providence said in a statement.
It is unclear when negotiations will restart.
Providence Hood River is one of six locations where approximately 3,000 nurses across the state began their work stoppage on Tuesday — the largest nurses strike in Oregon’s history. Providence confirms they have hired replacement nurses.
Brittany Foss, ONA Hood River bargain chair and nurse at Providence, said the dominate feeling amongst nurses is frustration.
“I think everyone feels like this has been a long time coming,” Foss said.
Nurses, community members and representatives from other organizations will be showing their support. Providence Hood River operating room nurses Guillermo Heredia and Aaron Perez-Campos said they see this as an opportunity to take a stand.
“We’re all here, because we’re trying to make a statement to administration that we care about our patients. We’re showing them that we’re willing to make a stand together. Not only here, but across Oregon,” Perez-Campos said.
Heredia added that he believes Providence is not providing enough services to help nurses do their jobs safely.
“We’re here supporting and hopefully, they can meet [us] in the middle and end this,” he said.
Joining them on the picket line was Lisa Mauroni, who has been working at the hospital for 48 years. Mauroni said that when she started working, Hood River Memorial Hospital was a small, rural medical center. She believes that if Providence did not step in and purchase the building in 1990, Hood River may not have a hospital today.
“I don’t know that the hospital would be here without Providence,” she said. “But I feel like the nurses really have to fight for every benefit.”
The nurses will be on the corner of May Street and 12th Street Tuesday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Foss said that anyone is welcome to join them. For more information visit RespectOurNurses.com.
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