PORTLAND, Ore. — Approximately 5,000 healthcare workers in hospitals across Oregon initiated a strike on Friday, marking a significant moment in the state’s labor history as described by a local health workers union, as it is recognized as the largest healthcare strike in Oregon and the first to involve doctors. The strike affected all eight Providence hospitals in the state, where the majority of participants were nurses. Additionally, an uncommon occurrence unfolded as dozens of doctors from a hospital in Portland, alongside staff from six women’s health clinics, joined the strike, marking Ohio’s first instance of physician participation in a labor action, according to the Oregon Nurses Association.
The strike was initiated after over a year of unsuccessful negotiations concerning critical issues such as staffing levels, wages, and employee benefits. The union has been vocal about “chronic understaffing” that it claims adversely affects patient care, advocating for lower caseloads, enhanced compensation, and improved benefits for its members. In response, Providence management asserted that they have consistently been “fully committed” to reaching a resolution and have made proposals for salary increases.
Within the context of the strike, Providence projected that around 70 physicians would leave their posts at Providence St. Vincent in Portland. This group includes hospitalists and obstetric hospitalists who cater to pregnant patients, alongside palliative care specialists who manage serious health conditions. Notably, the strike did not include surgeons or emergency department physicians.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek urged both parties to come back to the negotiating table, expressing concerns publicly about the delays in discussions. “Providence wasted 10 days when they could have been at the table making progress towards a comprehensive resolution of their labor dispute,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of fair working conditions for all healthcare staff.
In its defense, Providence argued that those 10 days had been utilized to recruit and train 2,000 temporary nurses to handle patient care needs across their facilities. The organization emphasized its commitment to maintaining hospital operations effectively. “Each time we’ve had a strike, we’ve needed all 10 days to prepare our hospitals to care for the community from the moment our nurses walk out. This time is more complex, given the larger scale of the strike and the lack of a replacement workforce for physicians,” the statement noted.
Leading up to the strike, Providence had anticipated operational challenges, leading them to announce on Monday a limitation on hospital admissions and a cap on patients at the Portland hospital. “We will defer or reschedule procedures that require hospitalist support as necessary. We also expect longer delays in our emergency department and increased ambulance diversion,” Raymond Moreno, the chief medical officer at the hospital, indicated in a press release.
Support for striking healthcare workers has been voiced by various Oregon lawmakers. “The hard-working nurses, doctors and staff on strike today at Providence deserve a workplace that treats them like the healthcare heroes they are,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden stated on Friday via social media. Providence has signaled its intention to continue negotiations in the aftermath of the strike.
