October 10, 2024 3:20 a.m.
The News Review is reporting:
Negotiations have crumbled between the 401 nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association and leadership of CHI Mercy Health after three days of deliberations last week.
According to Oregon Nurses Association representative Bridget Lovelace, nurses have been asking for an increase in wages, changes to employee health care coverage and asking for the hospital to address staffing shortages.
According to Lovelace, the nurses attempted a compromise with the hospital’s leadership and offered to take a 10% cut to their proposed wage increase. However, Lovelace said CHI Mercy Health is unmoving in their demands.
Both the Oregon Nurses Association and CHI Mercy Health declined to share contract details during active negotiations. CHI Mercy Health is a subsidiary of CommonSpirit, a health care system spanning 24 states and over 2,200 sites.
“Our employees are the heart of our organization and pillars in our community,” said Russ Woolley, CEO and president of CHI Mercy Health. “We are committed to market competitive compensation and benefits for all our team members and fully intend to address any existing wage gaps nurses may be experiencing due to their existing collective bargaining agreement.”
According to Erika Futrell, an Oregon Nurses Association member and nurse at CHI Mercy Health, the hospital is not keeping up with market value in terms of wages and benefits such as health care. Futrell said the conclusion of negotiations have left her and other nurses disheartened.
According to Lovelace, the possibility of a strike has not been discussed in detail, but it is not out of the question. Negotiations will continue in the coming weeks and both parties. are looking to reach an agreement.
“We continue to negotiate in good faith with the Oregon Nursing Association,” Woolley said. “We are committed to the collective bargaining process and expect a fair contract will be agreed upon soon.”
Get the complete story by picking up a copy of Thursday’s edition of The News Review.