After 27 days of strike, Providence and doctors at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, have reached a tentative agreement, potentially ending the state's largest health care strike pending union ratification. The agreement, announced by the Oregon Nurses Association union and Providence, includes pay raises, increased sick time, and a commitment to reform staffing models for hospital doctors and palliative care physicians at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
Ratification votes are set to begin Thursday. This would mark the first contract for the hospital physicians who formed their union in 2023. Additionally, a tentative agreement was reached with nurses at eight Oregon hospitals, with ratification voting also commencing Thursday. Providers at six women’s health clinics have already ratified their agreement and are scheduled to return to work starting Thursday.
These developments followed Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's request for in-person mediation between the parties. Providence expressed gratitude for its team members' support and hard work during the strike, enabling care provision with the recruitment of 2,000 temporary nurses. The Oregon Nurses Association refrained from further comment until after the ratification vote concludes.
The strike involved mostly nurses, but also included dozens of doctors at Providence St. Vincent and the women’s health clinics. The strike was a result of unsuccessful negotiations over wages, benefits, and staffing levels after more than a year of discussions.
