Will Providence cancel shifts for nurses after the three-day strike ends?

PORTLAND, Oregon (KOIN) – Providence nurses have officially begun their third day of strike, possibly the largest strike of its kind in Oregon history.

On Thursday, nurses outside Saint Vincent, Newberg, Milwaukie, Willamette Falls, Hood River and Medford hospitals resumed the final day of their strike, but many told KOIN 6 News they expected to show up for work Friday and be turned away.

Although the strike was scheduled for three days, Providence has decided that full-time nurses will not be allowed to return to work until Sunday due to contracts with substitute nurses who were hired for five days.

On Wednesday, Oregon Nurses Association said they had received a “flood of conflicting messages” from Providence leadership regarding the return of their nurses.

“On the other hand, ONA has clearly outlined our intentions and timeline so that nurses and Providence can plan accordingly,” the union said, pointing to its strike notice that provided specific times and dates for the event. “ONA nurses scheduled for shifts on Friday will be ready to return to work.”

However, Providence spokesman Gary Walker said nurses needed for a Friday shift will be notified by phone.

“We have processes in place to ensure a smooth transition in patient care – just as we did for the smooth transition when the strike began on Tuesday,” Walker said. “It is not unusual for a Providence nurse to work with agency nurses. We know the nurses will work together respectfully and professionally to provide quality patient care, just as they regularly do.”

On Thursday afternoon, ONA announced that nurses would continue picketing outside the six hospitals even after the three-day strike ended, “in response to Providence’s unlawful lockout of nurses.”

“In its strike call, ONA warned that strikes would continue if Providence locks out the nurses, refuses to rehire them, or delays rehiring them,” ONA said in a statement. “Given Providence’s refusal to rehire the nurses, ONA will continue to strike until the nurses return to their regular schedules.”

The nurses are currently carrying out their prior 10-day notice for a three-day strike from June 18 to 20. During the strike, nurses will not receive hospital pay and will not be able to take paid leave. Instead, they can apply for money collected by their union.

Nurse Emma Dancer said she and her colleagues were on the picket line for affordable health care, more paid vacation, market-based wages – and most importantly, better patient-to-nurse ratios.

“If they need a hoist, which is a device that goes underneath them and physically lifts them out of bed, and we need to put them on the toilet, it can take 30 minutes to get a patient in and out of bed,” said nurse Emma Dancer. “In the meantime, I have four patients who are calling for emergency calls and also need to get up and go to the toilet, or they need painkillers or have palpitations or chest pain.”

Providence Oregon said it would not begin negotiations with the nurses’ union until after the strike ends Friday morning. In the meantime, hospitals will remain open.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story continues to develop.