The contentious labor discussions between Providence Health & Services executives and the almost 5,000 nurses who work at the eight Providence hospitals around Oregon have drawn the attention of Portland City Council members.
Eleven of the twelve members of the city council called for a return to the negotiating table, citing public health and safety concerns, in an email sent to Jennifer Burrows, the CEO of Providence Oregon, and Erik Wexler, the president and CEO of Providence.
A call for comment on Monday morning was not immediately answered by a Providence representative.
The longest health care workers’ strike in Oregon history began on January 10th when Providence nurses went on strike. Salary, health benefits, and working conditions are the main concerns. Those on the picket line were informed late last week that if they did not return to work by the end of the month, their health-care coverage would expire.
A settlement offer was rejected by the striking nurses, who are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association, earlier this month. Some claimed the offer fell short in addressing patient safety and understaffing issues, as well as in satisfying demands for wages and benefits. The two parties haven’t had a face-to-face negotiation meeting since.
St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Providence Portland Medical Center, Hood River, Medford, Milwaukie, Newberg, Seaside, and Oregon City are among the hospitals impacted by the strike.
Portland city council members expressed their support for the striking nurses in an email to Providence leaders.
They added, “We implore you to get back to the negotiating table and participate in sincere discussions that result in tangible, long-lasting solutions.”
Erik Zimmerman of District 4, the only council member who did not sign the letter, claimed to have sent one of his own a few days prior, asking the Catholic, non-profit hospital system’s leadership to quickly negotiate a settlement with its striking employees.
Providence has also received letters from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and all seven Democratic members of Oregon’s congressional delegation pleading with it to resume talks.
Julia Silverman writes for The Oregonian/OregonLive about K–12 education. You can contact her at [email protected].
