Portland nurses demand COVID-19 protection
By Lyn Neeley posted on February 8, 2021
Nurses and other health care workers, along with community members, demonstrated in front of Providence Portland Medical Center on Feb. 5, demanding COVID-19 protection and better working conditions. The rally was one day after Providence gave the COVID-19 vaccine meant for people most at risk to certain large donors and board members.
Portland nurses rally, Feb. 5. WW Photo: Lyn Neeley
Gabriel Erbs, organizer for the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA), told this reporter: “Providence is a multibillion-dollar corporation and one of Oregon’s largest employers. If it’s not held accountable for protecting workers, no one will be. ONA nurses are being told to use their own paid time off if they are mandated to quarantine and stay home from work. That’s wrong and unsafe for nurses and patients.”