Thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses, pharmacists and health care professionals across Hawaii began to return to work Sunday after a five-day strike, energized by what union leaders called “historic” and new national standards that recognize safe staffing as a patient safety issue rather than an employer choice.

The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), which represents 31,000 caregivers across California and Hawaii — including more than 200 in the islands — launched their strike Tuesday, ending at 7 a.m. Sunday after five days of picketing at more than 500 Kaiser hospitals and clinics. The work stoppage drew strong public and political support as workers called for safer staffing levels, fair wages and pay equity for Hawaii employees wh

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