A unit of 1,600 nurses at Providence St. Vincent hospital in Southwest Portland will vote April 19 to May 3 on whether to authorize a strike in protest of unfair labor practices.
Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) accuses Providence of threatening, retaliating against and discriminating against nurses who engage in union activity and speak up about the safety of patients and hospital staff. ONA says in negotiations Providence has also refused to provide information about emergency department staffing.
If nurses vote to authorize a strike and a strike is called, ONA will give 10 days notice to allow Providence management enough time to halt admissions and transfer patients—or to reach a fair agreement with nurses and avert a work stoppage.
