(Portland, Ore.) – After seven days of intensive mediation, initiated at the request of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and after 26 days on strike (and counting), the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) today reached a tentative agreement with Providence Oregon at the 8 registered nurse (RN) bargaining units currently on strike. Those units include Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Newberg, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Hood River and Providence Seaside. (The hospitalists at St. Vincent Medical Center remain on strike and in negotiations.)
Broadly speaking, key provisions of the agreement include:
- Annual Step Increases & New Step 30: In 2026, nurses will receive annual step increases with a new Step 30 and additional fill-in steps added across all bargaining units.
- Wage Increases: Across-the-board increases over the life of the contract and increases for members upon ratification.
- Ratification Bonus: We were not able to achieve full retroactive pay. Instead, a portion of retro pay will be distributed as a bonus based on hours worked since contract expiration.
- No Changes to Contract Expiration Dates: We were not able to achieve contract alignments. Current contract expiration dates will remain unchanged across all Providence Oregon facilities.
- Break & Meal Penalty Pay: Nurses will automatically receive one hour of penalty pay for each missed break or lunch.
- Statewide Health Benefits Workgroup: A workgroup will be established to evaluate and make recommendations on health benefits and the feasibility of a statewide health benefits trust.
- Aetna Health Care Customer Service: A dedicated Aetna customer service team will be available for members to assist in navigating changes to employer-provided health insurance.
- Staffing: Contract language memorializing Oregon’s new staffing law and other hospital-specific benefits.
Ratification votes will open on Thursday, February 6 at 8 a.m. and close on Friday, February 7 at 4 p.m. (Note: Due to inclement weather, ratification vote times for Providence Medford will be Thursday, February 6 from 8 a.m. and closing Saturday, February 8 at 4 p.m.)
Nurses will remain on strike during the vote and will return to work if tentative agreements are ratified.
Note: ONA will not provide further comment until after the vote closes.