Largest health care strike in Oregon history begins as thousands picket Providence hospitals

Some 5,000 hospital health care workers have walked off the job in Oregon as they picket all eight Providence hospitals in the state. The Oregon Nurses Association union says it's the largest health care strike in state history. Most of those on strike are nurses. But in a rare move, dozens of doctors at a Portland hospital and others at six women's health clinics are also on strike. The strike came after more than a year of negotiations failed to produce an agreement over wages, benefits and staffing levels. Providence says temporary replacement workers are taking care of patients at its eight Oregon hospitals.