FLORENCE, Ore. – More than 100 registered nurses and community members participated in a successful informational picket today in support of the nurses at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence. Nurses have been working with PeaceHealth’s corporate managers since November 2016 to try to reach a fair contract agreement that improves patient care and increases nurse recruitment and retention.
The 75 nurses at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA).
Nurses rallied at the intersection of US 101 and Oregon 126 in Florence Monday between 8-10 a.m. and noon-2 p.m., with many community members joining the informational picket to show their support.
“Our community supports our nurses 100 percent,” said ONA member and medical-surgical nurse at Peace Harbor Shannon Cook, BSN, RN, WCC, OMS, who participated in Monday’s informational picket. “Multiple patients and community members showed up to voice their support and encouragement. It’s clear they care about their local nurses and the care we provide.”
Since bargaining began, nurses have volunteered more than 400 hours to try to reach a fair contract agreement with PeaceHealth’s corporate managers that prioritizes patient safety and helps attract and keep registered nurses in Florence. Nurses have been working without a contract since January 2017.
Key issues still being negotiated include ending excessive staff call requirements, correcting below-market wages, improving patient and staff safety and increasing health care provider recruitment and retention.
“We’re doing our best to reach a fair agreement that allows us to attract and keep great nurses here in Florence,” said ONA member and medical-surgical nurse at Peace Harbor Judy Thibault, RN. “It’s time for PeaceHealth to show they’re as committed as nurses are to this community and its health care.”
An informational picket offers nurses and the public a chance to engage in productive conversations about important local health care decisions. It is not a strike or work stoppage. Throughout today’s informational picket, local nurses continued working their regularly scheduled shifts at the hospital and providing the high-quality care Florence residents deserve.
Nurses and PeaceHealth’s corporate managers have one additional mediation date scheduled for May 8.
ONA is Oregon’s largest professional association and union for nurses. It represents more than 13,500 nurses statewide. ONA was founded in 1904 as the professional association for nurses in Oregon. It is a nonprofit association and a labor union representing nurses. ONA’s mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit www.OregonRN.org.
CAPTION: ONA members and bargaining unit team leaders at PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center Elaine Beers, RN, and Sandy Fleetwood, RN, participate in Monday's informational picket at the intersection of US 101 and Oregon 126 in Florence May 1.
