Nurses in Providence return to work after strike, still without contract

Nurses at six Providence hospitals across the state who walked off the job last week returned to their jobs Sunday, but they still do not have a contract and no negotiations are planned between the two sides.

More than 3,000 nurses went on strike Tuesday at Providence St. Vincent near Beaverton, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Providence Medford, Providence Hood River and Providence Milwaukie.

The three-day strike ended Thursday evening, but the hospital chain did not recall the striking nurses until two days later. Providence said it had promised five days of work to the replacement nurses called in for the strike.

This meant that Providence nurses could not resume their scheduled shifts until Sunday morning.

“We are grateful for their return and grateful to everyone who has helped us over the past week to continue to provide safe, excellent care to our patients and communities,” Jennifer Burrows, CEO of Providence Oregon, said in a statement Sunday.

Last week’s strike, which the union said was the largest nurses’ strike in state history, came after collective bargaining between Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association stalled for nine months. Contracts between Providence and union members have expired at all six locations, and the two sides have failed to reach an agreement on wages, benefits and staffing of hospital departments.

The union said in a statement Saturday that its members are “ready to return to the bargaining table in good faith.” But no talks are planned between Providence and the union.

“We don’t have any information yet on negotiation dates,” said Myrna Jensen, spokeswoman for the Oregon Nurses Association. She said a negotiation session scheduled for Monday with Providence Medford management was canceled because a federal mediator was not available. She said the hospital plans to postpone talks until the second half of July.

On Monday, Providence spokesman Gary Walker said the hospital chain is “working to schedule new mediation meetings with the goal of reaching preliminary agreements with our nurses in all six ministries.”

“After a strike, it is common practice to negotiate with the help of federal mediators,” Walker said. “We know from experience that mediation leads to a resolution, and that is certainly our goal for the coming weeks.”

The nurses are demanding better pay and affordable health insurance, as well as assurances that Providence will enact minimum staffing standards. Union members said last week that the hospital chain’s proposals fall far short of the staffing levels they are demanding.

Hospital management says it made “market-rate” offers to all six hospitals that would have increased average wages by 10% in the first year and about 18% in three years. Providence said most of its nurses work 36 hours a week, which equates to an average annual salary of more than $125,000.

One particular point of contention is Oregon’s new safe staffing law, which took effect June 1. It sets a quota for the maximum number of patients a nurse can care for in various hospital settings and requires hospitals to establish staffing committees for nurses and other caregivers.

The union has accused the health system of violating the law by submitting staffing plans without nurses’ consent. Providence said it complies with the law and works on staffing plans under guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.

Union spokeswoman Jensen said nurses could decide to strike again if no agreement is reached, but nurses would have to vote on whether to strike again, she said.

“When that might be depends on when they can all get back to the negotiating table,” Jensen said.

And there could be further labor unrest in offices at other Providence locations.

Last year, about 1,300 nurses at Providence Portland Medical Center, 100 at Providence Seaside Hospital and another 400 at the healthcare giant’s outpatient care and hospice operations went on a five-day strike. Those nurses eventually reached a deal with the health system that included pay increases ranging from 17 to 26 percent over two years, additional paid leave and assurances that Providence would comply with the new personnel law.

But those contracts expire at the end of the year, according to Jensen. She said the union has asked Providence management to begin negotiations at those hospitals; however, the hospital chain says negotiations typically do not begin until 90 days before the contract expires.

Last week, the nurses union filed a complaint against Providence Portland with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the hospital of refusing to negotiate in good faith.

— Kristine de Leon covers the retail industry, small businesses and data companies. You can reach them at [email protected].

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