Bill Graves, The Oregonian, July 20, 2009 Randi Weingarten, one of the nation's top labor leaders as head of the 1.4 million-strong American Federation of Teachers, was in Portland on Monday to help settle a conflict with one of the union's Oregon affiliates. The AFT on July 7 removed three senior officers and the 17-member local executive board of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5017 and seized the local's finances through a "protective order." The AFT has charged that local leaders violated union bylaws by meeting in July and improperly using dues money to promote a move to sever from the teachers union. ... Labor

Nurse.com, July 13, 2009 Oregon’s first hospital to receive Magnet designation, Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center in Portland, has received redesignation for the distinction in nursing excellence. “This is an exciting day for the outstanding team of nurses we have at Providence Saint Vincent Medical Center,” said Martie Moore, RN, chief nurse executive. “The redesignation exemplifies the exceptional care we offer our patients.” Providence Saint Vincent first received Magnet designation in 2000.

Associated Press, July 8, 2009 The American Federation of Teachers has taken over the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and dismissed its leaders. A teachers federation healthcare officer, Anne Goodman, cited concern that some local leaders were jeopardizing union members' interests. The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals represents 3,000 health care workers in Oregon and Washington. It is part of AFT Healthcare, which is an AFT affiliate. The teachers federation cited concerns over the affiliate's use of union dues and a possible attempt to leave the larger organization. ... Teachers

American Federation of Teachers, July 10, 2009 Upcoming contract negotiations will take place during one of the toughest economic climates in a generation. Recent actions by a few OFNHP leaders had jeopardized the union's ability to negotiate the best possible contract for its members. These actions included violating the democratic rights of members and constitutional procedures of OFNHP and the expenditure of funds for union activities outside of the budget and without proper Executive Board approval. On Tuesday, the AFT initiated a protective order and placed OFNHP under an emergency administratorship. ... OFNHP

Rebecca Vesely, Modern Healthcare, July 8, 2009 A union representing 3,000 nurses and other healthcare workers in Oregon and southern Washington state has been placed under an emergency protective order, and the top officers removed. The American Federation of Teachers forced out the president and other officers of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, an affiliate, amid allegations that member dues were being used improperly to switch the union's affiliation and change bargaining status, according to the AFT. Kaiser Permanente is the workers' primary employer, but about 150 members are employed at Providence Milwaukie (OR) Hospital. ... Officers

Daily Labor Report, July 8, 2009 The American Federation of Teachers July 7 removed the top officers and put its affiliate Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals under a temporary administratorship, an AFT spokesman told BNA July 8. The international took over the 3,000-member union's functions and finances through a “protective order” to prevent the erosion of members' bargaining status, contractual protections, and democratic rights, according to a union statement. This is only the fourth time in its 93-year history that the AFT has placed a local under a temporary administratorship, the union said. ... AFT

April Baer, Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 8, 2009 Portland - A dispute is brewing within a union that represents 3000 nurses in the Portland metro area. The Union is the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, which speaks for about 3000 nurses - most of whom work for Kaiser Permanente. It's part of the American Federation of Teachers, and AFT has now relieved 20 officials of their union duties. AFT says the local officers violated terms of the union constitution, and indicated some members were interested in changing their organization affiliation, and may have spent some union money toward that effort. ... Union

For Only Fourth Time in Its 93-Year History AFT Finds It Necessary to Suspend Local Officers for Putting Members’ Contracts in Jeopardy, Violating Fiduciary Responsibility and Engaging in Undemocratic Practices. OFNHP Now Operating Under a Temporary Administratorship. Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, July 7, 2009 Portland - The American Federation of Teachers removed the top officers of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), including President Kathy Geroux, and AFT Healthcare took over the union’s functions and finances through a “protective order” ... AFT

Seattle Times, July 7, 2009 The American Federation of Teachers has taken over the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and dismissed its leaders. Anne Goodman, a teachers federation healthcare officer, cited concern that some local leaders were jeopardizing union members' interests. The Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals represents 3,000 health care workers in Oregon and Washington. It is part of AFT Healthcare, which is an AFT affiliate. The teachers federation cited concerns over the affiliate's use of union dues and a possible attempt to leave the larger organization. ... Teachers

Portland Business Journal, July 7, 2009 Concern over the use of nurses’ union dues led a national labor group on Tuesday to remove the top officers of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, according to the American Federation of Teachers. Kathy Geroux, president of the Oregon union, was among those ousted when AFT Healthcare took over the organization’s functions and finances through a protective order. The national labor group alleged that its Oregon subsidiary used union dues without proper authorization, and may have been attempting to switch union affiliation away from AFT. ... National

Jonathan Brinckman, The Oregonian, July 7, 2009 The health care division of the American Federation of Teachers seized control Tuesday of the union local representing about 3,000 workers at the Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas and other facilities of Kaiser Permanente NW in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The action comes as Kaiser Permanente and the local, the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, prepare to begin negotiations on five contracts that expire in 2010. Officers of the local also were discussing breaking their affiliation with AFT, the national organization. At 9 AM Tuesday, about two dozen people with the AFT walked into ... National

Tim Christie, Eugene Register-Guard, May 16, 2009 Nurses who work at Sacred Heart Medical Center and for Sacred Heart Home Care Services have voted to extend their existing labor contracts for one year with no cost-of-living increases, hospital and union officials said Friday. The Oregon Nurses Association represents about 1,200 nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center and more than 70 home care services nurses. The two Sacred Heart hospitals in the metro area are owned by PeaceHealth, a Catholic-sponsored, nonprofit health system based in Bellevue. ... Nurses

John Givot, News-Review, August 7, 2007 Nurses at Mercy Medical Center
voted Monday to ratify their first union contract with the Roseburg
hospital. Between 160 and 170 nurses cast ballots, with 96 percent
approving the contract. Mercy employs 344 nurses overall. “It was a
marvelous response and a wonderful affirmation for the amount of
understanding and cooperation. I am hoping we have formed a partnership
for future relationships (with the hospital),” said Bonnie Wallace, a
registered nurse at Mercy. “They made an intelligent choice. “The
nurses who came to vote were extraordinarily informed,” she said. “Each
of them had read the contract. It was over 60 pages.” ... Mercy

John Givot, News-Review, July 15, 2007 Unionized Mercy Medical Center nurses went through another round of negotiations with the hospital Friday, in what has been a year-and-a-half process of trying to agree on a new contract. The 41st negotiating session was Friday, and ended no closer to a contract. The nurses will be holding an informational picket to garner public awareness and support for their cause from 8 AM to 8 PM Monday in front of the Roseburg hospital on Stewart Parkway. The process has come to a halt over the issue of closed shop. The nurses' union is demanding that all of the hospital's 344 nurses be required to join the union, or pay "fair share" dues which are 85 percent of the approximately $60 union dues, per month. "Until the issue of closed shop/union representation is resolved, it doesn't appear that the other issues will be addressed," said Kathleen Nickel, the communications director at Mercy Medical Center. ... Mercy

Joe Rojas-Burke, Oregonian, July 13, 2007
About 350 registered nurses employed by Multnomah County are preparing for a possible strike this fall. A majority of the Oregon Nurses Association bargaining unit voted this week to reject the county's contract offer and endorsed the use of a strike if negotiations reach an impasse. As public employees, the nurses must complete two rounds of mediation and go through a 30-day cooling-off period before they can authorize a strike, and then they must give 10 days notice. The county nurses provide care at public health clinics, schools, and county jails. They also work on disease prevention efforts, such as responding to infectious outbreaks. The nurses said they are seeking pay raises and a contract that prevents the county from replacing their jobs with private contractors.