Providence Medford Medical Center nurses spell out "Fair contract now" at the corner of East McAndrews Road and Crater Lake Avenue during an Oregon Nurses Association rally ahead of a Nov. 19 bargaining session. Providence Medford nurses have been working without a contract since March, and have been negotiating since January.

Providence officials say they remain “fully engaged” in the mediation process as the union representing nurses, some doctors and other healthcare providers at eight hospitals — including Providence Medford Medical Center — prepare for Oregon’s first strike involving health providers and nurses combined.

A five-day expedited mediation session ended without a deal Friday, according to a release issued Monday by the Oregon Nurses Association. The parties are now in the midst of a five-day “cooling-off” period that prohibits the union from issuing any strike notices until Thursday, Dec. 26.

“ONA has been clear; we are ready to bargain for a fair contract at any time but, if Providence is unwilling to address the serious concerns of our members, we will go on strike,” the union said in the release.

When reached for comment Monday, Providence provided a statement saying that “the announcement from union leaders seems premature.”

Providence stated that negotiation teams from eight hospitals plus three added bargaining units “are hard at work today” with help from federal mediators.

“In fact, Providence negotiators just provided updated proposals for six hospitals this morning,” according to the healthcare organization. 

Providence further claimed that after Friday’s expedited mediation sessions, negotiation activity continued throughout the weekend.

“In short, Providence teams are hard at work trying to reach agreements for our nurses, represented physicians and providers,” the statement concludes. “We will remain fully engaged in the mediation process today.”

Nurses in Medford have been without a new contract since March, have negotiated since January and have participated in nearly two dozen bargaining sessions.

The nursing union is representing approximately 5,000 caregivers including nurses, physicians and other unionized caregivers in 11 bargaining units across hospitals that include Providence Medford, Providence Portland, Providence Seaside, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Newberg, Providence St. Vincent, Providence Hood River and Providence Willamette Falls.

Earlier this summer, Providence Medford nurses coordinated with other hospitals for what the ONA described as the state’s largest ever nursing strike. 

Next on the horizon, according to the ONA update for represented healthcare providers issued Monday, is plans for “the largest coordinated healthcare strike in Oregon history”

“The strike would be the first provider and nurse strike in Oregon history,” the Monday ONA update states, later adding that “a gulf remains between our patients’ needs and Providence’s proposals.”

The ONA launched a web page — oregonrn.org/patientsbeforeprofits — that contains a FAQ page with information about why nurses, doctors and other caregivers could potentially go on strike. It also includes a “Donate to the Strike Fund” GoFundMe campaign that as of midday Monday had raised $4,500 in 93 donations over the past two months.

Despite talk of another strike, the ONA update describes efforts to avoid one.

“We remain committed to reaching a fair deal that avoids a strike,” the update states, adding that the union “agreed to additional mediation on Monday and await a response from Providence.”

The ONA added: “As we’ve said before, we are ready to bargain anytime.”

If a deal is not reached by Dec. 26, the ONA will be able “to escalate further actions,” which could include notice they intend to strike in 10 days. The advance notice gives Providence time to hire temporary replacements during the strike.