Health

Allied Health Workers Unionize at Major Portland Hospital

The vote adds to the ranks of the Oregon Nurses Association.

By Andrew Schwartz
Providence Portland Medical Center (Wesley Lapointe)

A large group of Providence Portland Medical Center workers have voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association, bolstering union power at the major city hospital.

The new union cohort comprises diagnostic imaging technologists, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians, and others—269 allied health workers in all, according to a federal record of the vote, which was tallied Wednesday night.

Of those who voted, 181 supported joining the union, while 49 opposed doing so, records show.

“As executive compensation continues to increase and staffing routinely runs short, the unit is looking to improve working conditions and secure just-cause protections,” ONA spokeswoman Myrna Jensen wrote in an email.

Part of a massive multistate health system, Providence stands among Oregon’s largest employers. In a statement to WW, a spokesperson said Providence “respects the decision of our caregivers and looks forward to negotiating in good faith on the terms of a first contract.”

With Wednesday’s vote, ONA says it now represents 1,685 workers at Providence Portland and more than 24,000 workers around the state. Its ranks have grown significantly in recent years, and the union has flexed its might, helping make Oregon nurses the highest paid in the country when accounting for cost of living.

The bulk of ONA members are registered nurses, but the union has made inroads with other groups too. For example, ONA also represents allied health workers at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford.

ONA says the top priorities of its new unit include “appropriate staffing levels,” “fair pay and benefits to recruit and retain workers,” and “dignity and voice on the job so health professionals’ expertise is respected.”

The vote had been planned for few weeks. The Providence unit petitioned Dec. 10 for an election, according to the National Labor Relations Board. On Dec. 17, the agency set the election date for Jan. 7, stating the vote would occur throughout the day in a room at the medical center.

It’s been a busy period for nurses association. In coming days, the union is set to hold internal leadership elections.

Andrew Schwartz

Andrew Schwartz

Andrew Schwartz writes about health care. He's spent years reporting on political and spiritual movements, most recently covering religion and immigration for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, and before this as a freelancer covering labor and public policy for various magazines. He began his career at the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

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