Legacy Health workers announced on December 27, 2023, that they have reached a tentative agreement aimed at ending a strike that has persisted for four weeks. The agreement affects approximately 140 advanced practice providers, including nurse practitioners, physician associates, and clinical nurse specialists, who organized under the Oregon Nurses Association in 2023. The ratification vote for the agreement will begin on Friday and conclude at noon on Saturday.
The strike, which commenced on December 2, involved workers stationed at Legacy hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. This group is among several newly formed unions representing Legacy health workers and stands as the first to achieve a tentative labor agreement.
According to the Oregon Nurses Association, the proposed contract includes comprehensive pay raises, new pay scales, and additional pay increases slated for the second and third years of the agreement. The union indicated that these changes aim to make Legacy Health’s wages more competitive with those of similarly situated workers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), although the contract does not fully close the existing wage gap.
Earlier this year, plans for a merger between Legacy Health and OHSU were called off, which may have influenced the current negotiations. Until the agreement is ratified, workers will remain on strike, as stated by the nurses’ union.
As the ratification vote approaches, the outcome will determine the future of labor relations at Legacy Health and possibly set a precedent for other unions within the organization. The agreement, if approved, could reshape the landscape of healthcare employment in the region, addressing long-standing concerns about pay equity and working conditions among health professionals.
