HOOD RIVER — At 6 a.m. on June 18, Providence Hood River nurses began their strike after months of failed negotiations. For nine months, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence had been at the bargaining table, with the ONA demanding competitive wages, better health insurance and more. During a press conference on June 7, the ONA filed a 10-day strike notice and said it was willing to negotiate. According to ONA leadership, Providence walked away from the bargaining table and has refused to negotiate since then.
Providence Hood River issued a statement saying ONA representatives had not responded to its latest offer.
“Union leadership has repeatedly refused to agree to negotiation dates. In some cases, weeks – or even months – have passed without negotiations, despite Providence offering several dates.”
Two weeks ago, Providence and the ONA met for a four-day mediation session, but little compromise was reached.
“On the last day of our four-day mediation session, Providence presented comprehensive proposals to the union at all six bargaining tables. Instead of responding or negotiating, the union issued strike notices and held a press conference.
“We hope that the union will promptly accept negotiation and mediation dates after its stoppage ends,” Providence said in a statement.
It is unclear when negotiations will resume.
Providence Hood River is one of six locations across the state where about 3,000 nurses walked off the job Tuesday – the largest nurses strike in Oregon history. Providence confirmed it has hired replacement nurses.
Brittany Foss, ONA Hood River bargaining chair and a nurse in Providence, said the prevailing feeling among nurses is frustration.
“I think everyone feels like this has been coming for a long time,” Foss said.
Nurses, community members and representatives from other organizations will show their support. Surgical nurses Guillermo Heredia and Aaron Perez-Campos of Providence Hood River said they saw this as an opportunity to take a stand.
“We are all here because we want to show the administration that we care about our patients. We are showing them that we are willing to take a stand together. Not just here, but across Oregon,” Perez-Campos said.
Heredia added that he believes Providence does not offer enough services to allow nurses to do their jobs safely.
“We support them here and hope that they can meet us halfway and put an end to this,” he said.
Lisa Mauroni, who has worked at the hospital for 48 years, joined them on the picket line. Mauroni said when she started there, Hood River Memorial Hospital was a small, rural medical center. She believes if Providence hadn’t stepped in and bought the building in 1990, there might not be a hospital in Hood River today.
“I don’t know if the hospital would exist without Providence,” she said. “But I feel like the nurses really have to fight for every advantage.”
The nurses will be at the corner of May and 12th streets from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Foss said anyone is welcome to join them. For more information, visit RespectOurNurses.com.
