PORTLAND, Oregon — After a lengthy period of negotiations and striking, Providence and numerous physicians at a Portland hospital have step towards resolution with a tentative agreement following a 27-day strike, which is being characterized as the largest healthcare strike in the state. This agreement is contingent upon union ratification and could signal a significant turning point for those involved.
The tentative deal involving physicians and palliative care specialists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center was jointly conveyed in announcements by Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association late on Wednesday.
Central elements of the agreement reportedly include salary increases, enhanced sick leave benefits, and a pledge to improve staffing models, according to the union’s statements.
Voting to ratify the agreement is set to commence on Thursday, which would mark a historic step as it would be the first contract for the hospital’s physicians since they formed their union in 2023.
In addition to the doctors’ agreements, Providence has also reached a tentative agreement with nurses across its eight hospitals in Oregon, which also opened for ratification votes on Thursday.
On Tuesday, doctors, nurses, and staff from six women’s health clinics completed their ratification process, preparing to return to work on Thursday.
These developments followed a request from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek for in-person mediation to facilitate discussions between the involved parties.
In a statement released by Providence on Wednesday, the organization expressed gratitude for the dedication of its team members and acknowledged their hard work and commitment to providing care during this challenging period. To ensure patient care throughout the strike, Providence had enlisted 2,000 temporary nurses.
The Oregon Nurses Association has indicated that further comments will be withheld until after the completion of the ratification voting process.
While the majority of the 5,000 striking workers were nurses, a notable number of physicians at Providence St. Vincent and staff from women’s health clinics also participated in the strike. This labor action was prompted by over a year of unproductive negotiations regarding compensation, benefits, and staffing standards.
