Medford, OR. – After a week of intense mediation, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence Oregon have reached a tentative agreement, bringing an end to a tense labor dispute that had lasted for weeks. The agreement affects all eight registered bargaining units across several Providence hospitals in Oregon, including Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River, and Providence Seaside. However, negotiations are still ongoing with the hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
The tentative agreement was reached after seven days of mediation, following a request from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for the two sides to resolve their differences. The nurses had been on strike since early January, demanding better wages, improved staffing, and other critical workplace changes.
Some of the key provisions of the tentative agreement include:
- Annual Step Increases & a New Step 30
- Wage Increases
- No Changes to Contract Expiration Dates
- Break & Meal Penalty Pay
- Statewide Health Benefits Workgroup
- Aetna Health Care Customer Service
- Staffing
While the agreement marks a major step forward, the nurses’ strike will continue until the tentative agreement is ratified. The ratification vote will begin at 8 a.m. on Thursday, February 6th, and close at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 7th. Nurses will return to work if the agreement is approved by the vote.
The agreement comes after 26 days of tension and negotiations, during which Governor Kotek urged both sides to find common ground to avoid further disruption in the state’s healthcare system. The ONA has stated that while the tentative agreement is a positive development, the final outcome still hinges on the ratification vote by the nurses.