Providence and nurses at 8 Oregon hospitals reach tentative agreement after 26 days of strike

Providence and nurses at its eight Oregon hospitals have reached a tentative agreement after 26 days of strike. The Oregon Nurses Association union says key provisions of the agreement include wage increases and automatic penalty pay for missed breaks. Union ratification votes will begin Thursday. Most of the thousands on strike were nurses, but dozens of doctors at a Portland hospital and others at six women’s health clinics also participated. Providence says it's still negotiating with hospital physicians in Portland. Doctors, nurses and providers at the women's health clinics ratified their tentative agreement Tuesday and will return to work starting Thursday. The union has described the health care strike as the largest in state history.