Nearly 1,000 turn out for Providence Hospital union vigil
Close to 1,000 people took part in a March 21 “candle-
light vigil for justice” outside Providence Hospital in North-
east Portland. For two years, Service Employees Interna-
tional Union Local 49 has been trying to unionize about
6,000 employees at several Providence locations in the Port-
land area, but has faced opposition from hospital manage-
ment. Providence Health & Services, with 27 hospitals in
five states, does recognize unions for some workers at some
locations, but also has a history of energetically opposing
union drives.
The vigil was called to put public pressure on Providence
to agree to a set of union campaign ground rules that have the
endorsement of Oregon’s highest elections official, Secre-
tary of State Bill Bradbury. Bradbury (pictured at left in the
cart) was one of a handful of elected leaders who attended
the vigil. Also there in support were Rep. Jeff Merkely
(walking next to Bradbury), speaker of the Oregon House,
and Rep. Tina Kotek, who chairs the House Health Care
Committee.
“No one has ever challenged Providence in this way,” said
Local 49 spokesperson Jeremy Wright.
Wright said Providence stepped up a public relations
counter-offensive in the weeks prior to the vigil, sending
e-mails to employees, and even handing out fliers to parents
at a Providence-run day care center. The message, which also
was repeated in an ad in the Catholic Sentinel newspaper,
was meant to warn people against things they might hear
from SEIU. Providence Health & Services is owned by the
Sisters of Providence, a Catholic religious order.
Nearly a dozen religious leaders also participated in the
vigil.
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APRIL 6, 2007