The Oregon Nurses Association, engaged in the biggest healthcare worker strike in Oregon history that began last Friday, said Thursday morning its bargaining units at 11 hospitals and women’s clinics across the state are hearing no response from Providence health system officials on ONA’s latest contract proposals.

Providence responded to that Thursday afternoon after initially saying earlier in the day: “We are actively engaged with the federal mediators.”

Providence officials released a new statement late Thursday that said: “Today, working with federal mediators, Providence bargaining teams have sent updated proposals and suggested bargaining dates for nurses represented by Oregon Nurses Association at all eight Oregon hospitals. Providence teams also are sending proposals and dates for hospitalists at Providence St. Vincent, and for the two bargaining units at Providence Women’s Clinic.

The release continues, “The dates offered include resumption of bargaining as early as tomorrow (Friday) morning and continuing through the weekend and into next week. Providence teams believe focused, intensive discussions at each table will be needed to make progress in negotiations.”

“Only union leaders can end the strike against Providence, and doing so would be in the best interest of our nurses, providers, patients and community,” Providence officials said. “In response to multiple requests to return to work, Providence is offering acute care nurses an opportunity to return to work by reporting this Sunday. Further details are available through Providence’s internal communication channels. Nurses who have questions about reporting to work should contact their supervisors.”

Providence said earlier this week that it was ready to resume negotiations at eight hospitals, including Providence Medford Medical Center, but “instead of responding to ONA’s proposals, Providence spent the day trying to divide frontline caregivers with coercive messages about crossing the strike line,” an ONA release said Thursday morning.

“The Oregon Nurses Association is calling on Providence to take negotiations seriously so we can reach a fair contract and end this strike,” the release said.

About 380 ONA-represented nurses have been on strike in Medford since last week, and Providence has hired replacements to fill out staff locally. Providence did note, however, that “more than 600 ONA-represented nurses across the state have chosen to work after the strike launched Friday — “a rate that is nearly 400% higher than in previous strikes.”

Bargaining teams are in place at Providence Medford Medical Center, Providence Hood River, Providence Milwaukie, Providence Newberg, Providence Seaside, Providence Willamette Falls and the health system’s largest hospitals — Providence Portland and Providence St. Vincent. There also are women’s clinics in the Portland metro area where workers and some doctors are on strike.

According to the release, ONA’s proposals, in part, include language on the following:

“Safe staffing — ONA proposes that each hospital incorporate patient acuity into all units and hospital staffing plans to determine the appropriate number of patients a nurse can be assigned,” the release said.

“Market competitive wages — Frontline caregivers are not asking for exorbitant wages; we are asking for market-competitive compensation that recognizes our experience, hard work, and value to the communities we serve,” ONA said. “It is crucial to remember that wages are also key to recruitment and retention of staff which, in turn, impacts chronic unsafe staffing conditions that put both patients and healthcare workers at risk. ONA is asking for wage increases that will bring Providence more in line with market leaders.

ONA officials said the wage offers from Providence, if agreed to, “would still mean their frontline caregivers would be far behind the market on wages. Specifically, by 2026, Providence nurses with 15 years of experience would earn approximately $8,000 less annually than their counterparts at OHSU, based on Providence’s current wage offers.”

“Employee Health Insurance — Providence employees can pay upwards of $6,300 dollars in out-of-pocket expenses for deductibles while employees at Kaiser, the market leader in employee healthcare, pay only $10 out of pocket for procedures and doctors’ visits,” according to the release.

“ONA has proposed lowering health care premiums and copays for employees or an Aetna Impact Fund to make up for the cost increases because of Providence’s transition to Aetna to manage their employee health insurance. ONA has also proposed a Letter of Agreement to convene a regional task force to explore new ways to provide health insurance to ONA members, including exploring a healthcare trust,” the release said.

“Providence has rejected any changes to health insurance benefits.”

This story has been updated with new comment from Providence officials.