Workers at the Jewish Home for the Aged in San Francisco cancelled a five-day strike that was scheduled for last week after family members of residents and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) asked them to hold off the job action.

Caregivers at the home said they hope that Jewish Home management will agree to resume negotiations on healthcare and wage issues. According to SEIU 250, the union that represents the workers, the strike followed management’s decision to implement a contract that included benefits cuts and wage freezes for workers.

In a letter to SEIU 250 President Sal Rosselli, Boxer promised to do all she could to bring the parties together to resolve the contract dispute. Residents’ family members also requested that management and caregivers return to the bargaining table.

The union said workers have sought to preserve benefits and to secure small wage increases of 3% per year, but Jewish Home management has been unwilling to work with the caregivers, and recently ended contract negotiations by implementing an unapproved contract. The strike was set to take place from Dec. 23 to Dec. 28.