June 23, 2021

With gratitude for her hard work and commitment, the board of directors of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) announced Sarah Laslett has resigned as executive director of the statewide nursing union and professional association. Laslett is leaving ONA to provide support to a family member facing a serious illness.

Laslett joined ONA in March 2020 after more than 17 years as a labor educator, including with the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center. Laslett’s first day on the job was one week before COVID-19 was designated a pandemic. Throughout her tenure, Laslett focused on ONA’s response to, and support of, Oregon nurses who were profoundly impacted by the virus and the ensuing public health and economic crises.  

“Sarah’s leadership during the pandemic has been extraordinary,” said Lynda Pond, RN, president of the ONA board of directors. “These have been unbelievably challenging times for all of us, but for nurses it has been truly unprecedented. Sarah has worked alongside our staff, our board, and our volunteer cabinet members to do everything in her power to advocate for nurses in the face of what felt like insurmountable difficulties. For that, and for so many other things, she has our deepest thanks.”

During her time with ONA, Laslett brought a focus on Bargaining for The Common Good to ONA. Bargaining for the Common Good is an approach to collective bargaining that seeks to address a wide range of social, racial and economic justice issues through partnerships with community leaders and organizations.

Under Laslett’s leadership, ONA created its first donations committee through which ONA now supports nonprofits working on health equity issues. Laslett also supported political and workplace campaigns to ensure ONA nurses have access to crucial COVID-19-related benefits such as lifesaving personal protective equipment (PPE), paid leave, exposure notifications, and contact tracing protocols, among others. Laslett jumpstarted ONA’s statewide virtual steward training program which helped ensure ONA stewards received training during COVID-19.

Laslett supported initiatives for nurses in the Providence Oregon health care system, including creating a new ONA strategic campaigns manager position. She was instrumental in ONA's COVID-19 Bill of Rights within the Providence system under the broad umbrella of the Protect People, Not Profits campaign. Laslett also worked on a significant expansion of ONA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, including the creation of a new director-level staff position, the director of DEI, that will be filled in the coming months.

“I am very grateful to the leaders and members of ONA for the opportunity to act as their executive director,” said Laslett. “I have been honored to support nurses in Oregon through the COVID-19 pandemic, to build the strength and capacity of this organization, and to amplify the voice of nurses in the fight for health care justice. I am proud of the work I have been part of, especially in the Providence system, and regret having to leave it prematurely. I will always be an advocate for ONA members.”

The ONA board of directors, in partnership with ONA's executive leadership team, is developing next steps for the upcoming transition.

“We are confident that the executive team, with the support of our amazing staff and committed board, will make this a smooth transition for our members,” Pond said. “Just as we are confident that no matter where Sarah goes, she will always remain a champion for nurses.”

Questions about the transition, or about ONA generally, should be directed to Scott Palmer, director of communications, at Palmer@OregonRN.org.