Legacy Health workers announced on December 27, 2023, that they have reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that has lasted four weeks. This agreement involves approximately 140 advanced practice providers, including nurse practitioners, physician associates, and clinical nurse specialists, who unionized in 2023. A vote for ratification is set to begin on Friday and will conclude at noon on Saturday.
The strike commenced on December 2, 2023, at various Legacy hospitals and clinics located in Oregon and southwest Washington. These workers represent one of several newly organized unions within the Legacy Health system and are the first to achieve a tentative labor agreement. The Oregon Nurses Association, which represents these workers, has confirmed that the proposed contract includes across-the-board pay raises, new pay scales, and additional pay increases in the second and third years of the contract.
According to the union, the agreement aims to bring Legacy Health wages closer to those of similarly situated employees at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). While the proposed changes will enhance wage competitiveness, they will not fully bridge the pay gap between the two organizations. Earlier this year, Legacy Health and OHSU had planned a merger, which was subsequently called off.
As the ratification vote approaches, the workers will remain on strike until the agreement is officially approved. The outcome of this vote will significantly impact the future of compensation and working conditions for the striking health workers, marking a critical moment for labor relations within the healthcare sector in the region.
