Jan. 17, 2025 (PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) has reviewed the most recent counterproposals from Providence, and these offers are nothing more than a slap in the face to the nearly 5,000 striking caregivers across the system. 
 
Providence’s proposals do not show any meaningful movement on the core issues facing our nurses: fair wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
 
But most shocking is that Providence’s proposals have removed ratification bonuses—bonuses that Providence has been touting to the press and in radio ads as an example of their “generous offer” to striking caregivers to settle this dispute.
 
This is not negotiation; it’s punishment. It is also a violation of federal law, regressive bargaining and an unfair labor practice.
 
Providence claims publicly they are ready to negotiate but these proposals prove they are not serious about engaging in meaningful dialogue. It’s time to end this strike, not by punishing nurses and doctors with backwards proposals, but by coming to the table in good faith. 
 
Providence's priorities are crystal clear when you look at their executive compensation. In 2023, more than $177 million was paid to just 164 executives, as reflected in Providence's publicly available financial filings. Among these executives were Rod Hochman, who retired at the end of 2024 and made $14.8 million in 2023, and Erik Wexler, who became CEO in 2025, who was previously making $5.2 million a year. 
 
The contrast between the lavish pay for those at the top and the struggling conditions for those on the frontlines is a direct reflection of Providence's failure to prioritize its workers and patients over excessive executive pay.
 
ONA wants to be 100% clear: bargaining is happening.   
 
We are actively engaged in bargaining right now by exchanging proposals with the employer; in fact, ONA provided counterproposals to Providence within 18 hours. ONA is committed to bargaining in a way that is reflective of the urgency of the moment, and we are open to face-to-face meetings or Zoom sessions as needed to move the process forward, but we are engaged in bargaining now. 
 
We just need a good faith partner to negotiate with.