Union Nurses Picketed Providence Willamette Falls Wednesday

OREGON CITY, OR — Nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association picketed in front of Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Wednesday afternoon to air their issues with Providence Health & Services in Oregon City.

The association, a union that represents nurses at the hospital, picketed to inform people about "raising health care standards for nurses, patients and our communities," it said.

The contract between nurses and Providence Willamette Falls and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center expired n December, according to the union.

For its part, Providence Health & Services said in a statement to Patch, "It's unfortunate that this staged event is taking time and energy away from the bargaining process," according to spokesman Gary Walker.

"We have had 17 negotiating sessions since September 2021 and ONA has agreed to engage a federal mediator to help build consensus to accelerate negotiations, starting with our next session on May 25," the statement said.

Wednesday's action began at 5:10 p.m. with a march that started in front of the Providence Willamette Falls Community Center at 519 15th St. and goes through downtown Oregon City to the Clackamas County Courthouse at 807 Main St. Community leaders and nurses will speak at the courthouse, the union said.

At 6:20 p.m, the rally marched back to the community center. Nurses will continue to picket until 10 p.m.

Last week, nurses at St. Vincent voted to authorize a strike against the hospital, but the union has not yet called a strike, the union announced.