Oregon nurses, doctors speak ahead of planned Providence strike

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- With concern growing over hospital care as a Friday strike looms at Providence Hospitals, representatives from the Oregon Nurses Association held a press conference to update the public on their preparations.

At all eight Providence Hospitals in Oregon, thousands of nurses are expected to walk out along with dozens of doctors at one hospital, all members of the Oregon Nurses Association.

Providence St. Vincent is the hospital expected to see between 60 to 70 physicians taking part in the strike, Providence officials said.

Unlike previous health care strikes, this is an open-ended strike with no planned limit on how long it will last.

According to ONA, the decision to call a strike came after months of negotiations where they claim "little movement was made" on top priorities such as staffing, smaller caseloads, affordable health care, increased paid time off and competitive wages.  

"Our members are angry because Providence has systematically lowered the standards of care and focused on healthcare model that prioritizes profits over our patients," said Executive Director Anne Tan Piazza, ONA's Executive Director. "And that is not why ONA members started their career in healthcare."

Providence St. Vincent Hospital could be one of the most affected by the strike, since it's where physicians will join. Officials say they may limit admissions and move appointments at St. Vincent as a result.

Providence officials said they “continue[d] to pass proposals” through the federal mediator and hope the union will respond “in the best interest of the community.”

But ONA said they have not only been fully engaged in bargaining but have also provided “counterproposals on the rare occasion that Providence brings meaningful offers to the table.”

The union blames Providence for refusing to bargain.

"They have made inconsistent and disingenuous claims about their preparedness and tried to blame the issue on frontline caregivers," added Tan Piazza. "They've offered to negotiate with our doctors because they're not prepared for them to strike, and went on to say that they would not negotiate with our nurses because they are prepared for them to strike."

She continued, "Are they too busy to negotiate? Are they not they aren't too busy to negotiate with workers they can't replace, but they are too busy to negotiate with the workers they claim they can? This is shameful behavior."

Surgeon Richard Botterill pointed to another concern, which is healthcare affordability for patients and frontline workers.

"Our healthcare will be one of the worst of any hospital in the state," noted surgeon Richard Botterill. "It's expensive, it's overpriced, the deductibles are huge and they just changed all of our healthcare without any negotiations."

Botterill added Providence has been cutting corners regarding Oregon's Safe Staffing Law - a claim Providence has denied.

To any patients whose healthcare may be impacted by the strike, OB/GYN Dr. Robin Richards encouraged them to seek the care they need, regardless of who is staffed. However, she stated overall, "We are doing this for you."

"I really need the community to know we deeply care. We would not be here if we didn't care," she said. "But just know that I and all my colleagues are doing that to try and make the system what we think it needs to be, which is safe."

If a deal is not struck, the strike is set to begin at 6 a.m. Friday.

Watch the full press conference in the video above.