Oregon Nurses Association Names Interim Director
The leadership change at the 25,000-member union signals a shift in management for healthcare operators across the state.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Oregon Nurses Association Executive Director Anne Tan Piazza has resigned following a period of internal leadership transition and a staff no-confidence vote. Paige Spence has been appointed as interim director for the union, which currently represents 25,000 members statewide.
Why it matters
The change in executive leadership follows public scrutiny from the union board regarding contract terms and internal friction, marking a major shift in how the organization will manage labor negotiations and staff relations moving forward.
The Oregon Nurses Association represents 25,000 members, a figure that includes the 10,000 new members added during the tenure of the departing executive director. The union board has declined to disclose the specific financial terms of the departure agreement.
The players
Anne Tan Piazza
The former executive director of the Oregon Nurses Association who resigned following a period of internal board and staff disputes.
Paige Spence
The current interim director appointed to lead the organization following the exit of the previous executive.
Oregon Nurses Association
A statewide labor union representing 25,000 nurses that navigates collective bargaining and healthcare policy advocacy.
Coalition for Powerful Reform
An organized slate of union members that assumed leadership of the association's board in July 2026.
The details
The transition follows the arrival of the Coalition for Powerful Reform, which took office in July 2026 and publicly criticized the executive director's contract. The previous board had previously amended that contract to include provisions for termination without cause, a clause that became a focal point for the new leadership and union staff after a no-confidence vote.
Timeline
July 2026: The Coalition for Powerful Reform took office within the union.
July 30, 2026: Anne Tan Piazza went on leave citing an incident of harassment.
October 29, 2026: Resignation confirmed.
Market Landscape
This leadership turnover follows the internal power shift initiated by the 2026 Coalition for Powerful Reform board transition. The event marks a departure from the management structure that oversaw the union's growth over the preceding years.
Operators in the healthcare sector should monitor the union's upcoming negotiation strategy for signs of policy changes under the new interim leadership. Reviewing existing collective bargaining agreements is advised to anticipate potential shifts in labor relations.
The takeaway
Management transitions often signal underlying changes in organizational priorities, particularly regarding contract enforcement and staff-board relations. Operators should track how the interim leadership adjusts internal communication protocols and upcoming negotiation stances to anticipate shifts in labor costs.
Further reading
For broader context on current shifts in the healthcare labor market, visit Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lund Report.
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