HOOD RIVER — Nurses at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and five other locations in Oregon submitted a 10-day strike notice and are planning a three-day walkout beginning Tuesday, June 18 at 6 a.m. after negotiations over a new contract broke down.
For nine months, Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association met approximately 60 times. ONA and Providence Hood River met 12 times since December, according to Brittany Foss, a nurse in the Medical Surgical Unit at Providence Hood River. Foss is the Providence Hood River bargaining chair representing the ONA.
“We [ONA] have been demanding that Providence follow the safe staffing laws and practices, provide nurses with quality healthcare and offer competitive wages that are going to help recruit and retain skilled professionals in the Gorge,” Foss said.
Last week, ONA and Providence met for 40 hours over three and a half days before Providence ended the talks June 7. According to a memo sent out to ONA nurses, Providence has failed to address priorities such as decreasing healthcare costs, wage parity and enhancing paid time off.
A statement issued by Jennifer Burrows, RN and chief executive of Providence Oregon, reads: “First off, it’s important to know that from now and through the strike, our priority becomes ensuring we provide excellent patient care. We’ve been preparing for months, and we have replacement workers coming in to help us care for patients and meet our commitments to our communities.”
Burrows said that she is “saddened” by the ONA’s decision to strike and claims Providence has “proposed substantial wage increases and contract enhancements that our nurses have requested.”
Davina Craig, a nurse in the labor and delivery unit at Providence Hood River, said that sometimes it doesn’t feel safe working at Providence.
Foss said Providence left the negotiation table, but the ONA will remain at the open to conversations about a new contract. According to Burrows, Providence will not return to the bargaining table until the strike concludes.
Commented