A planned five-day strike by thousands of Kaiser Permanente health care workers across California, Hawaii, and Oregon came to an end on Sunday, according to both union leaders and the health system.

Kaiser Permanente, headquartered in California, confirmed that roughly 30,000 employees returned to work after the strike, which began Tuesday and concluded Sunday morning. The company stated that during the strike, its facilities remained staffed with physicians, experienced managers, trained personnel, and nearly 6,000 contracted nurses, clinicians, and other staff.

Negotiations are set to continue this week, with a primary focus on “economic issues.” While the unions also raised concerns about staffing and other workplace matters, Kaiser Permanente emphasized that wages were the main reason behind the strike and remain the key point in ongoing discussions.

The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, representing registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse midwives, and other health care professionals in California and Hawaii, noted that more than 500 hospitals and clinics were affected. The union said the strike highlighted the importance of prioritizing patient care and ensuring safe staffing levels. They plan to resume bargaining later this month.

Sarina Roher, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, added that Kaiser Permanente “cannot address its staffing and access challenges without competitive wages to retain and attract the skilled professionals our patients rely on.”

Kaiser Permanente is one of the largest nonprofit health plans in the U.S., serving 12.6 million members across 600 medical offices and 40 hospitals, primarily in western states.