PeaceHealth SW healthcare pros bring the heat

After months at the bargaining table, healthcare professionals in Vancouver are stepping up the fight for a first contract

VANCOUVER, WA (May 5, 2026) — Rallying in 80+ degree temperatures on Thursday, medical professional workers at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center stood united in their fight for a first contract. Months into negotiations, the workers — organized with the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP, AFT Local 5017 — brought the heat to the sidewalks in front of PeaceHealth SW in Vancouver, demanding management stop stonewalling on core issues at the bargaining table.

“PeaceHealth has gotten used to the faces across the bargaining table and doesn’t seem moved when we raise the need for fairness and respect in our work,” says Meredith Freeland, a Dietitian who serves on the union’s bargaining team. “This rally is to show that it’s not just those at the table, but a broader group of caregivers, coworkers, and community members demanding that our collective voice be heard.”

Healthcare professionals and supporters rallying for a fair contract on April 30, 2026. Photo: OFNHP

The PeaceHealth Southwest Professionals (PHSW Pros) bargaining unit consists of about 250 physical therapists, medical social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and other professional workers at PeaceHealth Southwest. Upon winning their union in May of 2024, they joined about 1,200 other healthcare workers at PeaceHealth represented by OFNHP.

The professional workers are pushing for contract terms that are common among healthcare workers. Per OFNHP:

“These healthcare professionals have been negotiating for a contract that ensures safe staffing, fair wages, and the resources needed to provide high-quality patient care. Despite this, management has failed to meaningfully engage on core issues, delaying progress and putting increasing pressure on both workers and the communities they serve.”

Beyond the solidarity on display at Thursday’s rally, PeaceHealth Professionals have broad support among the region’s healthcare workers. In social media posts, healthcare workers at different medical facilities shared photos holding signs reading “Solidarity with PHSW pros.”