FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 8, 2019
ONA to hold informational picket at St. Charles Bend
The Oregon Nurses Association plans to hold an informational picket Jan. 21 at 2500 NE Neff Rd. It is not a labor strike or work stoppage.
St. Charles Health System and the ONA — which represents about 915 nurses on the Bend campus — have been negotiating a three-year contract since early June. The bargaining teams have met 24 times including several sessions with a federal mediator and have resolved most of the language changes in the contract. Nearly all contract language related to nurse staffing has been agreed upon. Outstanding issues include wages, benefits, the grievance process and unit practice committees.
“We respect our nurses and their right to hold this informational picket,” said St. Charles Bend President Aaron Adams. “While we have made much progress on the contract over the past six months, we have not yet reached a final agreement. We look forward to meeting again at the bargaining table later this week.”
The hospital will continue to operate normally during this event and is committed to providing the best possible care to the community.
“The majority of remaining issues have to do with wages and benefits,” Adams said.
The outstanding articles cover the process by which the nurses grieve disputes; continuing education; how nurses are selected for unit practice committees and incorporating some language from St. Charles Prineville’s contract. None of these items relate to patient safety or safe staffing.
“We value our nurses and are proud that they are among some of the highest paid in the nation,” he said. “We are committed to continue the hard work needed at the negotiating table to reach an agreement.”
In order to protect our patients and their privacy, we ask that members of the media stay near the picket outside of hospital property when conducting interviews. Contact Lisa Goodman if you wish to be escorted onto the hospital grounds.
About St. Charles Health System
St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
###
