Providence Health on Saturday sought to resume bargaining with the Oregon Nurses Association through a federal mediator.
The change of course for the health system came one day after the union called a strike at eight Oregon hospitals and several clinics. It also came as public officials including Gov. Tina Kotek called for a return to the bargaining table.
In announcing its request to resume bargaining after earlier calling a halt to it, Providence cited successful planning as well as the large number of ONA members who declared their intention Friday to cross the picket lines.
Providence is now ready “to begin the process of discussing with federal mediators the process for resuming negotiations,” said the announcement issued Saturday. “We are ready to start at Providence Medford and Providence Newberg today. We will also make plans for scheduling negotiations for other bargaining units in the days ahead, as ministry leaders determine when they can step away from operational and care planning to focus again on negotiations.”
The nurses association had repeatedly criticized Providence for halting negotiations after the union on Dec. 31 issued a 10-day strike notice to the system. In response, health system representatives argued they needed to focus on lining up replacement workers and making other strike preparations.
Kotek joined the criticism of Providence on Friday, saying its stance was delaying progress on negotiations. She called on both sides to resume negotiations.
A Providence spokesperson said in an email that on the first day of the strike 609 employees represented by the nurses association reported to the health system they intended to keep working. That's out of nearly 5,000 providers represented by the union in the system in Oregon.
A spokesperson for the Oregon Nurses Association, however, said the relatively high number reflected “coercive” tactics to pressure workers to cross the picket line.
The union did not respond to a request to elaborate on the tactics According to the health system, for planning purposes management had asked providers represented by the nurses association to declare by the end of Friday whether they planned to continue working despite the strike.
According to the union, “our members are steadfast in their commitment of creating a better future for caregivers and patients alike.”