Health care providers vote to form union at local PeaceHealth clinics

Over a dozen health care providers in Eugene-area clinics operated by PeaceHealth have voted to form a union.

The new group, PeaceHealth Providers United, will focus on "addressing burnout, understaffing, safe patient care and ensuring access to care for the region’s most vulnerable patients," according to a news release from the Oregon Nurses Association.

The clinics are the first to form a union in Lane County, according to the Oregon Nurses Association.

PeaceHealth officials said in a statement they are committed to working with caregivers to ensure PeaceHealth is not only the best place to get care, but the best place to give care.

“We appreciate the respectful manner in which our clinicians considered this issue and one another’s point of view," the statement said. "As the process moves forward, our focus remains on what unites us: a deeply held commitment to providing safe, compassionate and high-quality care to our patients and their families."

The 13 physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants organized with guidance from American Federation of Teachers for the past year before voting in their election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. The providers organized across two urgent care clinics in Eugene, one urgent care clinic in Springfield and the walk-in clinic at Woodfield Station in Eugene.

"This is an important step forward. We came together to support each other to achieve a safe, fair and balanced work environment,” nurse Wendy Lang said in the release. “We want fair pay and reasonable workloads that allow us to provide high-quality medical care while also maintaining our individual health and well-being."

PeaceHealth Providers United will partner with the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association, which is represented by the American Federation of Teachers Local 6552 and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association.

“Forming a union provides us the opportunity to better advocate for our patients and ourselves,” said Dr. Kate Swank. "It’s exciting to work towards a common goal and see progress. I am very much looking forward to what more we can accomplish for improved care in our community."

Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT.