Legacy Health workers announced on December 27, 2023, that they have reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that has lasted for four weeks. The strike involved approximately 140 advanced practice providers, including nurse practitioners, physician associates, and clinical nurse specialists, who unionized in 2023. The workers, stationed across Legacy hospitals and clinics in Oregon and southwest Washington, initiated the strike on December 2.
The agreement will require ratification through a vote scheduled to begin on Friday and conclude at noon on Saturday. This group of workers is part of a broader movement among newly organized unions representing various segments of Legacy Health employees and is the first to arrive at a tentative labor agreement.
According to the Oregon Nurses Association, the union representing the striking workers, the tentative deal includes significant improvements such as across-the-board pay raises, the introduction of new pay scales, and additional pay increases planned for the second and third years of the contract. The union emphasized that the agreement aims to make wages at Legacy Health more competitive with those of similarly situated workers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), despite not fully closing the wage gap.
Earlier this year, Legacy Health and OHSU had called off a proposed merger, which had implications for the labor climate within the region. The workers will continue to participate in the strike until the agreement is ratified, as stated by the nurses union.
As negotiations continue to evolve, the outcome of this vote will be critical in determining the future labor landscape for health workers within the Legacy system and the broader region. The potential agreement reflects ongoing efforts to enhance working conditions and compensation for healthcare professionals, which have become increasingly vital in light of the challenges faced in the healthcare sector.
