(TUALATIN, Ore.) November 4, 2021 - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) stands in solidarity with the more than 3,400 nurses and other health care professionals represented by the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP) who submitted their 10-day strike notice to Kaiser Permanente today. 

“ONA and our 15,000 members across the state are deeply disappointed that Kaiser Permanente, or any health care system in Oregon, would disrespect the professionalism and commitment of the employees who have sacrificed so much for the benefit of their patients,” said Lynda Pond, RN, President of the ONA Board of Directors. “Kaiser administration’s behavior is outrageous. Although a strike is always a last resort, ONA believes our OFNHP colleagues have no other option but to take this step. Their fight is our fight too.”

ONA also submitted a 10-day notice to Kaiser Permanente, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the Oregon Employment Relations Board that ONA members throughout Oregon will engage in picketing and other protected actions in support of their colleagues at OFNHP. ONA nurses’ solidarity actions with OFNHP will take place outside of work hours. ONA nurses will continue working their scheduled shifts at non-Kaiser health care facilities. 

“This notice allows ONA members to join the picket lines at Kaiser Permanente facilities beginning at 6 a.m. Monday, November 15,” said Pond. “Since OFNHP first voted to authorize a strike in October, ONA members across the state have been prepared to do whatever we can to support a strike. Every single one of our bargaining units has pledged not to cross the picket line, and we are creating Mutual Aid Committees to raise funds and provide whatever support our colleagues need, for however long is necessary.”

OFNHP and ONA are in 100% agreement: health care systems like Kaiser must do more to address safe staffing. This is a crisis they caused and Kaiser's failure to reach an agreement has put an even more pressure on an already overstressed nursing workforce. 

“ONA stands in solidarity with OFNHP,” said Pond. “At a time when our health care system, and our health care professionals, are at the breaking point, Kaiser’s refusal to settle a fair contract is a slap in the face. All health care systems in Oregon should take note of our shared commitment to putting patient care before profits and to fair contracts for workers.”

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The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) is the state’s largest and most influential nursing organization. We are a professional association and labor union which represents 15,000 nurses and allied health workers throughout the state. Our mission is to advocate for nursing, quality health care and healthy communities. For more information visit: www.OregonRN.org.