Nurses on strike at all eight Providence hospitals in Oregon approved new labor contracts in a vote tallied Monday, clearing the way for their return to work. The result means that most striking nurses will return to Providence’s hospitals Thursday.

Nurses at Providence's eight Oregon hospitals approved new contracts on Monday after over six weeks of strike, ending what the state nurses union has described as the largest health care strike in state history.

Nurses who have been on strike for more than 40 days have voted to accept an agreement with Providence Health & Services, the Oregon Nurses Association said.

"As RNs, we believe that these contracts will lead to greater recruitment and retention of frontline nurses as wages become more aligned with other