(Portland, Ore.) — Nearly 550 professional and technical employees at Providence Oregon facilities have joined the Oregon Nurses Association following four union election victories in the first half of 2026, expanding representation across multiple hospitals including Providence Portland, Providence Hood River, and Providence Willamette Falls.
The newly organized workers span a wide range of clinical and support roles and join existing nurse bargaining units already represented by ONA at the facilities. The organizing victories further increase union density within the Providence Health & Services Oregon network.
“We have had difficulties recruiting and retaining techs for years. It has felt at times like a revolving door. People don’t want to work for an employer that won’t pay competitive market wages,” said Erika Taylor, a respiratory therapist at Providence Hood River. “Our nurse colleagues have stood with us since we started organizing and we will lean on them as we navigate bargaining our first contract.”
Union members say the expansion strengthens collective bargaining power across job classifications and hospital sites.
“The increased union density across Providence Oregon will benefit patients and all workers,” said Kaleigh Roehl, an RN at Providence Portland. “Despite its not-for-profit classification, Providence is the embodiment of corporatized healthcare, where profits are put before patients every day. But when workers come together in solidarity, we are able to build power together and hold hospital executives accountable for the decisions they make that impact the health and safety of our community.”
The new bargaining units include:
At Providence Portland:
- 270 workers, including surgical techs, respiratory and radiation therapists, rehabilitation assistants and others, voted to join ONA on January 7, 2026
- 225 workers including dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, chaplains and more won their union election on April 2, 2026
At Providence Willamette Falls:
- 82 technologists voted to join ONA on February 19, 2026
- The group includes respiratory therapists, MRI technologists, ultrasound technologists, surgical technicians and others
At Providence Hood River:
- 43 technologists voted to join ONA on May 21, 2026
“Being part of a union is important so that we can navigate the rapidly changing health care environment,” said Diana Shiroky, a speech language pathologist at Providence Portland. “At Providence Portland we will be near wall-to-wall represented by ONA. While our job responsibilities may be different, all the bargaining units will work together with administration to make improvements to employee recruitment and retention while maintaining high patient satisfaction.”
The organizing wins come as eight ONA-represented bargaining units at Providence prepare for contract negotiations ahead of expirations in late 2026 and early 2027. In January 2025, about 5,000 workers across 11 Providence bargaining units participated in a 46-day strike—the longest healthcare workers’ strike in Oregon history. The strike concluded with agreements that included staffing improvements, wage increases, and unified contracts aimed at strengthening labor solidarity.
About ONA
The Oregon Nurses Association represents more than 25,000 nurses and healthcare professionals across Oregon, advocating for improved patient care, safer staffing levels, and stronger working conditions throughout the state.
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