Providence Healthcare Workers Continue Strike for Contract

Thousands of Providence healthcare workers have resumed striking, with the Oregon Nurses Association leading demands for improved pay, staffing, and safer working conditions. Providence has expressed readiness to return to negotiations with federal mediators after reports of many union members crossing picket lines to continue working, suggesting some issues may have been addressed prior to the strike. Chief Executive Jennifer Burrows noted that discussions would initially focus on Providence Medford and Newberg, with plans to engage other facilities later. The strike has garnered attention from political figures, including Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who urged both sides to return to the negotiating table. The ongoing labor dispute is seen as Oregon's largest healthcare strike to date, impacting multiple facilities across the state. Providence maintains that healthcare services will not be interrupted during the strike, despite the significant labor unrest.