(Update) Providence Accuses Union of Bad Faith While Claiming Readiness to Negotiate
Update 1/15/25
As the historic doctors and nurses strike in Oregon marches into its fifth day, the drama has taken a new twist. Providence Medical Group (PMG) has officially filed a complaint accusing the union of bad-faith bargaining. Yes, this is happening in real life, not just in the plot of a medical drama.
Providence’s Side of the Story
On Monday, PMG lodged an unfair labor practice complaint against the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association. According to the complaint, the union “unlawfully delayed bargaining by refusing to meet…at reasonable times and reasonable intervals for…bargaining.” PMG also accused the union of making a "regressive bargaining proposal" and dragging its feet on responding to proposals and counterproposals. To top it off, they say the union was distributing flyers about the planned January strike while avoiding the negotiation table.
It’s like a medical team refusing to chart and then blaming the system for the chaos, right? PMG claims these actions have led to unnecessary disruptions in patient care. Meanwhile, they assert they’re ready to negotiate — well, at some hospitals, anyway. But according to them, the union’s "all or none" approach is standing in the way. The union reportedly won’t return to talks unless all Providence facilities are on board for negotiations.
The Union’s Perspective
From the union’s point of view, the strike was their last option after months of negotiations failed to bring meaningful change. Nurses and other striking staff argue they’re fighting for more than paychecks—they’re advocating for safer working conditions, better staffing ratios, and systemic improvements. And let’s face it, nurses are pros at putting others first—but even superheroes need support.
On Tuesday, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) issued a strong response to Providence’s complaint, claiming the healthcare giant is the one playing dirty. “After illegally refusing to bargain during the 10-day notice period, Providence has shifted its position on negotiations dramatically over the last few days,” the ONA said in a statement. “As we move back into negotiations, we call on Providence to take this process seriously, come to the table with substantive offers to address the systemic issues that impact hospitals and clinics across Oregon and reach a fair contract that prioritizes patients and frontline caregivers instead of profits.”
The Latest Developments
By Tuesday afternoon, Providence seemed to be extending an olive branch. The healthcare group announced that all eight of their hospital ministries were ready to resume mediated negotiations with the ONA’s teams. Could this be the light at the end of the tunnel? Or just another round of “Will they? Won’t they?” negotiations?
For now, the standoff continues, and nurses remain on the picket lines. As tensions rise and both sides dig in their heels, the question remains: Will this be resolved in a way that truly benefits Oregon’s patients and healthcare workers? Stay tuned—this real-life episode is far from over.
Update 1/13/25
Four days into the strike, Providence announced it is "now in a position to discuss resuming mediated negotiations" – but only with some of its unionized nurses. Yes, you read that right: some nurses. Not all.
In a statement to local news, Providence shared that it had notified federal mediators on Monday about its willingness to talk with nurses at six locations:
- Hood River
- Medford
- Milwaukie
- Newberg
- Seaside
- Willamette Falls.
However, when it comes to the two biggest hospitals – Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Portland – the health system says it needs more time. "These tertiary hospitals treat the patients with the most acute conditions and complex needs. For those reasons, those two sites still require extra focus from their leadership teams," a Providence spokesperson explained.
The health system claims this delay is necessary to hire and train replacement workers to keep facilities running safely during the strike. Meanwhile, the Oregon Nurses’ Association (ONA) issued an updated statement on the strike,
“We found out that Providence wants to return to the bargaining table with nurses at Providence Newberg and Providence Medford through the press and not through mediators or from Providence themselves. We hope that next time, they can just pick up the phone and call us.
This means that Providence is feeling the pressure from 5,000 frontline caregivers launching the largest healthcare strike in Oregon history and elected officials all across Oregon calling on them to return to the bargaining table.
Their statements and excuses on why they will not bargain with certain bargaining units remain inconsistent, disingenuous, and contradictory. While Providence is highlighting the small percentage of caregivers who reported for work —a number no one can independently confirm—the overwhelming majority, nearly 90% of our members according to their figures, have chosen to stand together on the picket lines. We’re also hearing from some members who initially crossed the line and are now reaching out to join the strike. If the strike lines get even bigger, does this mean Providence will not be able to bargain again?
If Providence finally agrees to come back to the bargaining table with all of our members, they need to take bargaining seriously and make proposals that do not look like their proposals from before the strike. True bargaining means an intentional effort to reach a fair contract that addresses core issues of chronic understaffing, patient safety, and competitive wages and benefits including stopping cuts to employee healthcare.”
This indefinite strike isn’t just making waves among nurses. Two groups of unionized physicians and advanced practice providers have also joined in, striking for their first contract. Solidarity in scrubs, anyone? Many nurses and physicians are taking to social media to post regular updates from the front lines - and they are garnering millions of views!
Nurse Blake showed his support by traveling directly to the strike and posting to his millions of followers on social media.
And while Providence claims that 600 unionized nurses – about 13% – chose to cross the picket line and work during the strike, let’s not lose sight of the 4,000 who are standing strong. Their courage sends a clear message: Nurses are done being pushed to the breaking point by a system that prioritizes profits over patients and the well-being of its staff.
So, where do things stand? The ONA says it hasn’t received any new proposals or invitations to bargain from Providence or mediators. It’s a frustrating, familiar dance, and the clock is ticking. Medical workers aren’t just striking for themselves; they’re striking for the future of healthcare.
To all the nurses out there: Keep holding the line, advocating for what’s right, and reminding everyone that hospitals don’t run on CEO bonuses – they run on the sweat, skills, and sacrifices of nurses. And to Providence? It’s time to wake up, listen to your frontline workers, and make meaningful changes. Because without nurses, there is no care. And without care, there is no Providence.
Update 1/10/25
In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through Oregon's healthcare system, approximately 5,000 healthcare workers, including nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and other medical professionals, have initiated the largest healthcare strike in the state's history on January 10, 2025.
The strike primarily involves employees of Providence Health & Services, affecting eight hospitals and six women's clinics across Oregon. The striking workers, represented by various unions including a newly formed union of hospitalists and physicians, are united in their demands for better compensation, improved working conditions, and enhanced staffing levels. This coalition of healthcare professionals argues that these changes are essential not only for their own well-being but also for ensuring high-quality patient care.
What sets this strike apart from previous healthcare labor disputes is the significant involvement of doctors and hospitalists. Traditionally, physician strikes have been rare in the United States, making this event a notable departure from historical norms. The inclusion of doctors in the strike underscores the severity of the issues at hand and adds considerable weight to the workers' demands.
This strike has drawn massive interest and support from the public and political figures, Nurse.org will continue to update this article.
Original article: 1/3/25
The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) announced an open-ended strike set to begin on January 10 after negotiations with Providence Health & Services failed. This historic strike involves 5,000 nurses across all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon, supported by physicians and hospitalists in a show of solidarity. "This is new," said Raymond Moreno, Chief Medical Officer at Providence St. Vincent. "Replacing physicians, midwives, practitioners—nobody has any experience with this."
Key Points:
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Wide-Scale Participation: 70 hospitalists, physicians, physician associates, and nurse practitioners at Providence’s largest hospital, St. Vincent, are striking. Additionally, 80 obstetrician-gynecologists, certified midwives, and nurse practitioners from six Portland-area women’s clinics are joining the walkout.
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Operational Challenges: Providence plans to rely on replacement nurses, offering high pay through staffing agencies. However, there is no clear solution for substituting hospitalists and physicians.
The following Providence hospitals in Oregon are involved in the upcoming January 10th strike:
- Providence Portland
- Providence Seaside
- Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (Portland)
- Providence Milwaukie
- Providence Willamette Falls
- Providence Medford Medical Center
- Providence Newberg
- Providence Hood River
- Additionally, the strike will involve workers from Providence Women's Clinic and other Providence clinics across the state35.
This strike is set to be the largest healthcare worker and physicians strike in Oregon history, involving nearly 5,000 workers across all eight of Providence's hospitals in Oregon
Nurses’ Frustrations: The Push for Change
On January 2, 2024 the ONA penned an open letter exposing Providence illegally refusing to bargain. The strike stems from staffing shortages, high healthcare costs, and inadequate time with patients as primary grievances. "The corporatization of healthcare has left many Providence employees frustrated and burnt out," the ONA stated.
Key Points:
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Insurance Concerns: Many nurses were recently transitioned from Providence insurance to Aetna plans, which they say come with higher premiums and deductibles. Labor and delivery nurse Heather Medema remarked, “A lot of people think that if you work in health care, you’re going to have great health insurance. That’s rarely been the case for me.”
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Staffing Shortages: Dr. Jahnavi Chandrashekar, a hospitalist at St. Vincent, highlighted the strain of managing increasing numbers of sicker patients without adequate staffing. "We’re expanding the hospital, but we’re not expanding the service of the providers fast enough to keep pace," she said.
Providence’s Response:
Providence leaders say that their priority is patient care during the strike. CEO Jennifer Burrows expressed disappointment with the union, stating, “We have been transparent with union leaders that in the event of a work stoppage, bargaining stops to support our priority of ensuring we continue to provide excellent patient care.”
Key Points:
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Strike Planning Allegations: Providence accused the union of orchestrating a system-wide strike to increase bargaining leverage, a claim union leaders deny.
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Staffing Compliance: Oregon’s nurse staffing law remains in effect during the strike, adding pressure on Providence to maintain standard ratios.
What’s Next?
Union members insist they remain open to further negotiations, signaling a willingness to call off the strike if Providence offers concessions. For now, the stage is set for one of the largest healthcare worker strikes in Oregon’s history, raising questions about the balance between corporate healthcare models and frontline providers’ needs.
As nurse Heather Medema powerfully stated, “It’s not just about this contract. It’s about Providence refusing to discuss the things that are important to us.” If this strike succeeds, it could redefine how healthcare systems prioritize their staff and, ultimately, patient care.
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