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Nurses at Largest Hospital East of Cascades Vote on Strike Authorization

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Wednesday, May 17, 2023   

Nurses at Oregon's largest hospital east of the Cascades are voting this week on whether to authorize a strike.

Frustrated by five months of union negotiations which have yet to yield a contract, nearly 1,000 nurses at Saint Charles Bend are holding a strike authorization vote through Sunday.

Joel Hernandez, registered nurse at St. Charles Bend and vice president of the Oregon Nurses Association, the union representing nurses at the facility, said the lingering and biggest issues are the hospital's inability to recruit and retain staff.

"Bend is, particularly, very expensive and isolated to live here," Hernandez pointed out. "We have a very, very hard time getting people to stay here and live here."

Julie Ostrom, a senior nursing leader and member of the bargaining team for Saint Charles Health System, said in a statement recruiting and retaining staff are issues, but argued the hospital is making progress in these areas. She added a strike authorization would be "inconsistent" with making further progress on the issues.

More than 300 nursing positions are vacant, according to hospital data compiled by the Oregon Nurses Association.

Hernandez stressed striking is a last resort nurses have been pushed to because of the lack of a deal. He contended understaffing has been an issue at the hospital for too long and creates a cycle of concerns.

"They keep getting asked to do more work and put more on their plate, and by the end of it, they get burnt out and they leave," Hernandez observed. "No one wants to come and replace them because they know how hard it is to work here, in the working conditions."

Hernandez added nurses also see it as a fight to make Bend a better place to live.

"St. Charles is the biggest employer in this area, and what affects their employees affects the whole community," Hernandez emphasized.

Disclosure: The Oregon Nurses Association (AFT Local 5905) contributes to our fund for reporting on Civic Engagement, Health Issues, Livable Wages/Working Families, and Mental Health. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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