Tentative Agreement Reached After 26-Day Nurses Strike in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) — After a lengthy 26-day strike, the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and Providence have announced a tentative agreement involving all eight hospitals. Nurses are currently continuing the strike while voting on the agreement, which will commence Thursday at 8 a.m. and conclude Friday at 4 p.m. Voting times have been adjusted for Providence Medford, allowing votes from Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon.
Providence has indicated that its physicians, providers, and remaining nurses are expected to return to work by Thursday, while negotiations are still ongoing involving hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. This tentative agreement follows a week of mediation, encouraged by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.
As stated by Providence, complete tentative agreements have been reached with all nurse bargaining units within its Oregon hospitals, providing a resolution after extensive negotiations. The ONA echoed this sentiment, highlighting that the union was able to secure several key arrangements.
Key components of the tentative agreement include annual step increases for nurses by 2026, wage increases upon ratification, and a ratification bonus, as full retroactive pay was not feasible. Additionally, nurses will receive penalty pay for any missed breaks or lunches and are guaranteed contract expiration dates to remain unchanged. A new statewide health benefits workgroup will be established to evaluate health benefits and a dedicated Aetna customer service team will assist members in navigating their health insurance options.
Should the tentative agreements be ratified, nurses would ultimately return to work, bringing an end to the protracted strike and signaling a new chapter in the labor relations between the ONA and Providence.
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