PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — For the second time in 2024, the nurses at Providence St. Vincent have voted to authorize a strike, just a week after doctors at the same hospital also authorized a strike.
According to the Oregon Nurses Association, the 1,800 nurses at Providence St. Vincent voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing the bargaining team to strike if necessary.
Kathy Keane, a registered nurse and the ONA bargaining unit chair for Providence St. Vincent, said in a statement that Providence has been failing to address problems within the hospital and they don’t want to strike, but it may be their only path left.
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“Providence is failing patients. We are asking for a fair contract to address Providence’s staffing problems and empower nurses to provide the high-quality care our patients deserve. Nurses have been negotiating in good faith since September 2023, but Providence continues to ignore the needs of patients and providers,” said Keane. “We don’t want to strike. But we can’t stand by and let Providence continue to fail our patients and our community. We need real change and a strike may be the only path left to protect our community’s health.”…