Health care workers at Grant County hospital district vote to unionize
Published 12:49 pm Friday, April 10, 2026
JOHN DAY — Health care workers at the hospital district in Grant County have voted to join the Oregon Nurses Association.
The ONA announced the “overwhelming majority” of health care workers at the Blue Mountain Hospital District filed union authorization cards Friday, April 10, to join the union.
The workers include more than 120 — nurses, radiology technologists, nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, service and maintenance workers, laboratory workers and environmental service workers Blue Mountain Hospital and the district’s care center, clinics, labs, offices and hospice services.
The Blue Mountain Hospital District is a public health district that operates as a nonprofit organization encompassing Blue Mountain Hospital — Grant County’s only hospital and a critical access facility with 25 beds — the Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic in John Day, the Blue Mountain Care Center in Prairie City and other health care services.
“Five years ago we had eight permanent doctors. Today we have none,” Danielle Hunt, an ONA member and radiology technologist at Blue Mountain Hospital, said in the announcement. “Patients shouldn’t have to start over with a temporary provider every appointment. We’re unionizing to make sure every patient has a provider who knows you, your history, and your health.”
Caregivers point to years of instability as a driving factor in their decision to unionize, according to the ONA. During the last four years, the district has had four CEOs and other changes, including in September 2025 when it laid off nine of its employees and cut a contract administrator position.
The hospital sent out a press release Sept. 16 explaining that operational losses, a lower than expected utilization of services, increasing labor and supply costs, and anticipated Medicaid cuts following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act were concerns that led to the cuts. In total, the district cut four clinical staff, five mid-level administrators and one contract administrator in what it reported as strategic restructuring.
Hunt in the announcement described joining the ONA as personal for the health care workers.
“We want the best care for every patient because we know they’re grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and neighbors. Everybody matters,” according to Hunt.
Health care providers will begin preparing for contract negotiations with the district. Workers plan to prioritize transparency and accountability in hospital decisions, according to the ONA, along with measures to increase recruitment and retention of skilled healthcare staff and ensure sustainable healthcare across Grant County.
According to the Oregon Nurses Association, during the last five years, more than 10,000 nurses and caregivers have voted to join the association, with the health care workers at the Blue Mountain Hospital District the latest group.
