Oct. 15, 2025 (Portland, Ore.) – Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) at Legacy Health voted to authorize a strike after more than a year and a half of stalled contract negotiations. APPs—which include physician associates (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)—say Legacy executives have refused to offer a fair contract that gives them a voice in their workplace and provides the competitive compensation needed to recruit and retain qualified staff. 

 

“We are the face of Legacy. Thanks to our skilled, life-saving care thousands of Oregonians are seen and cared for without having to wait months to see a physician or pay for expensive specialist visits,” said Leigh Warsing, PA and member of the Legacy bargaining team. “But we still don’t get the respect we deserve. Despite our specialized training and certifications, we make less than APPs at other healthcare systems and less than bedside nurses at Legacy. That makes it difficult to recruit and retain enough staff.” 

 

Over the past decade, healthcare systems have taken away frontline caregivers’ autonomy, respect, and authority to provide the best patient care and sustain long-term careers. APPs at Legacy say the system’s corporate healthcare model has lowered patient care standards and led to overwork and burnout, and that management’s lack of serious bargaining proposals has only deepened their frustration. 

 

Another key issue in bargaining is uncompensated work. Legacy APPs often perform vital, unpaid tasks that are essential to high-quality patient care, such as responding to patient messages, updating colleagues during shift transitions, and managing emergencies. 

 

“We need a contract that protects our professional boundaries and recognizes the time we actually devote to our patients,” Warsing said. “In the trauma department, after finishing a 12-hour shift, we often spend another hour updating the incoming PA—unpaid. If an emergency arises, we stay late but are not compensated for that time either. That’s no way to treat your employees.” 

 

Before any strike could occur, a 10-day notice would need to be sent to Legacy management. The APP bargaining team is scheduled to negotiate with Legacy management on October 16 and October 23. While no strike date has been set, APPs emphasize that striking is a last resort and that they remain committed to reaching a fair agreement at the table.

 

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), which represents 135 APPs at Legacy Health, is prepared to bargain around the clock to prevent a strike and secure a fair contract.