Kaiser Permanente nurses and other health care professionals are back on the job at San Diego County facilities after a roughly four-week strike ended Feb. 24, with union leaders citing “significant movement at the bargaining table” as return-to-work agreements were finalized, according to NBC 7 San Diego.

The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals said the walkout ended at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and the union called off picketing Monday while it and Kaiser “finalize return-to-work agreements.” 

The strike began Jan. 26 amid prolonged contract talks. In San Diego County, pickets were staged at San Marcos Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, and Zion Medical Center. Union officials described the action as the “largest open-ended strike of registered nurses and health care professionals in United States history.” 

During the walkout, union leaders alleged unfair labor practices. The union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Kaiser walked away from the bargaining table in December and attempted to bypass the agreed-upon national bargaining process. 

During the strike, Kaiser implemented contingency plans to keep care available, while warning that some services could be disrupted. 

Associated Press reporting on the strike end says workers “had requested a 25% wage hike over four years” and ultimately accepted a 21.5% increase.