Providence Seaside Nurses Join Historic Oregon Healthcare Strike 569 Likes12 Inquiries

In the early hours of January 2025, nurses at Providence Seaside Hospital walked off the job, joining thousands of healthcare workers across Oregon in what has become the largest healthcare strike in the state’s history.

This historic action has captured the attention of not only healthcare workers but also the broader community. Providence Seaside nurses, who have long been dedicated to providing quality care to their patients, are standing firm in their fight for safe staffing practices, fair compensation, and adequate paid time off.

🩺 What’s the Issue?
For months, these healthcare heroes have been negotiating with Providence Health & Services for better working conditions. The main issues at the heart of this strike are:

• Safe Staffing: Ensuring there are enough nurses per shift to meet the needs of patients, especially in emergencies where the severity of care (acuity) is high.
• Fair Compensation: Nurses at Providence Seaside have reported lower pay than their counterparts at other Providence facilities. They’re fighting for wages that reflect their hard work and expertise.
• Paid Time Off: Healthcare workers are often under immense stress, and many are calling for better sick leave and vacation time to recover and take care of their own health.

💡 Why Does This Matter?
The strike isn’t just about wages; it’s about patient safety. Nurses like Mary Romanaggi, who has worked at Providence Seaside for 40 years, know the impact that staffing shortages can have on patient care. Nurses are pushing for contract language that ensures safe staffing levels so that each patient receives the care they deserve—especially in critical situations like strokes, heart attacks, and trauma cases.

“I’ve seen what happens when you don’t have enough staff. We’re putting patients at risk, and we’re overworked. It’s a safety issue,” Romanaggi said.