Providence Health & Services has issued a warning to striking nurses, stating that healthcare benefits for them and their families will be terminated.

About 82% of the Oregon Nurses Association’s bargaining unit voted against a tentative agreement with Providence last week.

As the Providence nurses strike inches toward the five-week mark with no end in sight, the question becomes which side feels more pressure to settle.

The idea of RFK being put in office is terrible. It’s a detriment to the health of the people and will be absolutely unsafe.”

OREGON -- Providence said on Friday that 43 percent of nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) at its Medford medical center have returned to work. This report comes after the healthcare system sent an email to nurses on strike telling them they would lose their healthcare at the end of the month.

Nurses have been on strike at Providence hospitals since Jan. 10, including Providence Medford, pictured. Providence management has told nearly 5,000 striking employees they will lose health benefits by the end of the month if the do not return to work.

Providence Health & Services has issued a warning to striking nurses, stating that healthcare benefits for them and their families will be terminated.