Nurses ratify contract with Providence today, Feb. 24, after 45-day strike, will return to work on Wednesday in Hood River

File Photo - Nurses gather in Hood River for a 3-day strike at Providence in June, 2024.

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore., Feb. 24, 2025 — The Oregon Nurses Association ratified a contract with Providence Health today after being on strike for almost two months. 

“Our return to work date is Wednesday (Feb. 26),” said Davina Craig, a nurse at Providence Hood River Hospital. “Wednesday Night shift will be the first night to go back.”

Craig said that all 8 bargaining units representing some 5,000 nurses across Oregon got the same deal

The new 3-year contract has a 22 percent average wage increase. Nurses were also seeking 100 percent retro pay for lost raises since the last contract expired 9 months ago. 

However, they took Providence’s offer of 75 percent retro pay.  

“It’s good enough for now,” Craig said. “Nurses in our membership feel very strong. We know that between contracts there is more work to do to get ready for the next contract session.”

Craig said the biggest disappointment in the new deal was their health care benefits. “Every day there is a new employee with increased health care costs and decreased health coverage. Compare that to Adventist that know has amazing health care - I know because I’m married to a nurse that works over there (in The Dalles). There’s been a big shift.”  

The new contract comes after a 45 day strike.

Mediation between Providence and the Oregon Nurses Association was scheduled for last Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Feb. 19. The decision followed mounting public pressure, including letters from 11 Portland City Councilors and calls from Governor Kotek and Oregon legislators urging Providence to negotiate in good faith.

Nurses across the state had until 4 p.m. this afternoon to vote on the contract.