(Reuters] – The union leaders representing 50,000 U.S. nursing staff and others reached a tentative arrangement with Kaiser Permanente, preventing a strike that would have affected patient care at American hospitals.

Kaiser Permanente’s plans to introduce a two-tiered system of wages with lower salaries for new employees has prompted thousands of workers from Oregon, California, Colorado, and other states to threaten to quit on Monday.

According to a union statement, Kaiser and Alliance of Health Care Unions agreed to a four year contract. This includes wage increases for each of the next five years through 2025. This agreement also provides health and retirement benefits, as well as a bonus program. It did not contain any financial information.

According to Hal Ruddick (executive director of Alliance union), “This agreement will ensure that patients continue receiving the highest quality care and Alliance members have the best jobs.” He said, “This contract protects patients, ensures safe staffing, guarantees fair wages, and offers benefits to all Alliance members.”

The union had earlier stated that the union would increase the staffing problem the nurses refer to as the COVID-19 epidemic.

Kaiser ranks among the top not-for-profit health networks and managed care organizations in America, with an operating income of close to $24 million last quarter.

Christian Meisner is senior vice president at Kaiser Permanente and chief of human resources. He stated, “This historic agreement positions Kaiser Permanente in a successful future focused upon providing high-quality medical care that’s affordable and accessible to our over 12 million members and communities we serve.”

The tentative agreement will go to vote over the coming weeks. Once it has been ratified, the agreement is retroactive to October 1, 2021.