The Oregon Nurses Association is a left-of-center labor union representing over 15,000 nurses at dozens of hospitals throughout Oregon. The union is affiliated with the American Nurses Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the AFL-CIO at the national level, and lobbies for a variety of left-of-center labor laws and other policies at the state level. The union also conducts collective bargaining on behalf of each local unit. ^{1 2 3 4}

The largest collective bargaining unit of the ONA is the Providence health system, which operates 8 hospitals in the state. In 2025, ONA led a strike of its members against the Providence health system, which involved nearly 5,000 employees and lasted 26 days, the longest healthcare strike in state history. ^{3 4}

The ONA also operates two political action committees: the Nurses United Political Action Committee (NU-PAC), which promotes ONA policy priorities through Oregon’s ballot measure system, and the Oregon Nurse Political Action Committee (ON-PAC), which funds candidates’ campaigns. ⁵

Background and History

The Oregon Nurses Association was formed in 1904 as the Oregon State Association of Trained Nurses and in 1906 changed its name to the Oregon State Graduate Nurses Association (OSGNA). In 1907, OSGNA drafted and supported Oregon’s first Nurse Practice Act, which became law in 1911 and was responsible for establishing the Oregon State Board of Nurse Examiners. In the 1930s, the group became the Oregon State Nurses Association and in the 1950s changed its name again to the Oregon Nurses Association. The group supported standardized eight-hour workdays and other employment-regulation policies in the 1930s and negotiated its first contract in 1954. In 1961, the state legislature passed legislation allowing for nurses to join a union, which further expanded the ONA’s influence. ¹

The ONA formed its first Political Action Committee in 1970 and in 1974, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) “granted ONA the right to legally represent nurses for the purposes of collective bargaining.” ¹

In 2014, the ONA voted to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers, and through it the AFL-CIO labor federation. The ONA “was recognized by the Oregon AFL-CIO for the largest new organizing victory in the private sector after organizing nurses at Providence Newberg Medical Center” in 2015. ¹

Political Activities

The Oregon Nurses Association operates two political action committees: The Nurses United Political Action Committee (NU-PAC), which promotes ONA policy priorities through Oregon’s ballot measure system, and the Oregon Nurse Political Action Committee (ON-PAC), which funds candidates’ campaigns. ⁶

During the 2024 elections, the ONA endorsed almost exclusively Democratic candidates for public office including candidates for statewide offices of secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general. The union also echoed the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers of then-Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) for President and Vice President. ⁶

Policy Stances

The Oregon Nurses Association has supported legislation to increase criminal penalties for violence against health care employees, which drew strong opposition from disability rights advocates. The union also supported legislation to prohibit certain out-of-pocket expenses and requiring insurers to cover glucose monitors for diabetic patients. ⁷

Aside from health policy, the union has supported far-left and left-of-center legislation on housing, economic issues, and drug pricing including supporting a $258 million rental assistance program and supporting legislation outlawing predatory lending practices. ⁷

2025 Strike

In 2025, ONA led a strike of its members against the Providence health system, which involved nearly 5,000 employees and lasted 26 days, the longest health care strike in state history. Negotiations prior to the strike lasted a year, and the parties began mediation during the strike at the urging of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D). ³

1. “History.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.oregonrn.org/page/history
2. “Dues Chart 2023-2024.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.oregonrn.org/resource/resmgr/docs/ONA-Dues-Chart-2023-2024.pdf
3. Lopez, Julia. “Providence reaches tentative agreement with Oregon nurses after 26-day strike.” Fox 12 Oregon. February 5, 2025. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.kptv.com/2025/02/05/providence-reaches-tentative-agreement-with-oregon-nurses-association-after-26-day-strike/
4. “Labor Department.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.oregonrn.org/page/A4
5. “Government Relations: Policy & Advocacy.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025.  https://www.oregonrn.org/page/Policy
6. “Endorsements 2024.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://www.oregonrn.org/page/Endorsements2024
7. “2024 Short Session: End of Session Report.” Oregon Nurses Association. Accessed February 9, 2025. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.oregonrn.org/resource/resmgr/gov/2024_GR_End_of_Session_Repor.pdf