(ACROSS THE STATE OF OREGON) - Thousands of Providence Hospital Nurses started a historic Strike earlier this week, walking out over issues that include numerous Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) and the need for safe staffing levels, increased paid time off and fair wages.

Nurses are represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

They work at six Providence facilities around the State: Saint Vincent, Newberg, Milwaukie, Willamette Falls, Hood River and Medford.

Workers and management have been in contract negotiations for several months and after a four-day mediation session that wrapped up on June 7th, Nurses said it was clear hospital management wasn’t interested in responding to their concerns with serious proposals, forcing them to escalate.

“At Providence Medford, we are facing a staffing crisis and our Nurses are overworked, offered low quality health care and paid less than the current market for Nurses in Medford,” said Caroline Allison, a Registered Nurse, in an ONA press release. “Adding insult to injury, it has now become clear that Providence appears to be systematically trying to undermine Oregon’s Safe Staffing Law.  The Law was intended to solve the Nurse workforce shortage crisis and allow us to greatly enhance patient care.  Instead, Providence has again made the decision to focus on its bottom lines instead of their workforce, their communities and their patients.  This is why I voted to Strike.  Because if a ($28 billion) health care corporation isn’t going to fight for the community, our patients and our Nurses, then we will.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Largest nurses strike in Oregon history to begin June 18 - Oregon Nurses Association (oregonrn.org) and Nurses in Oregon take to the picket lines to demand better staffing, higher pay (yahoo.com)

Photo Courtesy of the Oregon Nurses Association via Facebook.