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Providence reaches tentative deal with some striking doctors and nurses

Providence is still in mediation with striking nurses at all eight of its hospitals in Oregon, and with hospitalists at St. Vincent Medical Center. The tentative deal only involves two out the 11 bargaining units involved in the strike.
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Nurse strike Providence
Picket line near Providence St. Vincent Medical Center on Jan. 28, 2025. | JAKE THOMAS/THE LUND REPORT
February 3, 2025

Providence has reached a tentative agreement with striking doctors, midwives and nurses at the Providence Women’s Clinic, it announced jointly with the Oregon Nurses Association late Sunday. 

It’s the first sign that intensive mediation that started last week is producing results and could bring an end to one of the largest health care worker strikes in state history. 

Last month, the nurses union called a strike at all eight of Providence’s hospitals in Oregon. And in a first, two groups of unionized physicians and other advanced practice providers also went on strike: obstetrician-gynecologists at the Women’s Clinic locations and hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. 

The tentative deal is for two contracts and two bargaining units. One is for physicians and other advanced providers at the Women’s Clinic, and the other is for nurses. 

“Our members have made significant sacrifices to stand up for fair wages, safe staffing, and the ability to provide quality care to their patients,” said Dr. Charlie Saltalamacchia, who works at a Providence Women’s Clinic. “This agreement at Providence Women’s Clinic proves that solutions are within reach.” 

The nurses’ proposed contract includes a new 25-step wage scale based on years of experience, resulting in 4%-20% pay increases for most, according to the union. The physicians’ proposed contract includes increases of 7.5%-15% 

The agreement now goes to union members for a ratification vote that closes Tuesday at 7 p.m. 

The strike has pitted health care workers seeking better wages and health benefits against one of the largest Catholic nonprofit health systems in the country. Providence said it has offered generous pay increases and cannot afford to make deeper concessions, pointing to its recent financial losses. Union members said the push to increase their productivity was driving workers away from Providence and reducing the quality of patient care. 

Providence is still in mediation with striking nurses at all eight of its hospitals in Oregon, and with hospitalists at St. Vincent Medical Center. The health system has been relying on thousands of temporary nurses to keep its doors open. 

Replacing the striking physicians at the Women’s Clinic and St. Vincent has been more challenging, and Providence said last month it had permanently transferred 45 pregnant patients to other health systems due to the strike. 

In a brief written statement, Providence said it was pleased to have reached a deal with two of the 11 units on strike and thanked the team that’s continued working in its hospitals. “Their commitment has been crucial in maintaining the high standards of care our patients expect,” a spokesman wrote.


This article was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting. It has been republished here with permission.

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