Providence Health & Services said its negotiators are ready to reopen talks with the Oregon Nurses Association to end a strike by 5,000 doctors, nurses and other medical personnel that began on Jan. 10.

Nearly 5,000 Providence Health & Systems nurses and other professionals walked off their jobs Friday in the largest strike by health workers in state history – and the first involving unionized doctors.

Four days after some 5,000 health care workers walked off the job at all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon, the health system said Tuesday it was ready to resume contract talks with the striking workers.

Almost 5,000 Oregon healthcare workers are striking against nonprofit health system Providence after more than a year of failed contract negotiations. | Though largely comprised of nurses, the walk-off that began Friday also includes physician associates and doctors—the latter of which is a first for Oregon,

On the fifth day of the largest health care strike in Oregon history, Providence indicated it is ready to resume negotiation talks with the some 5,000 striking nurses and doctors across its eight hospitals.

Providence Health & Services in Oregon said Monday it was ready to resume talks with striking nurses at six of its hospitals — and it went on the offensive, accusing physicians also on strike of violating federal labor law.