Service Employees International Union workers who went on strike last week from Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea returned to work Tuesday.

According to a press release from the union, all 92 percent of the union workers who voted to strike honored the strike Dec. 19.  The workers ultimately could not return to work for a full week.

Though union officials said their employees were “locked out,” Mayo officials said they had to fulfill a one-week contract signed with replacement workers.

Justin Yost, who has worked in the utilities department for 14 years, said he and others appreciated the support they received from the community.

“We were surprised to see Mayo telling the press during the lockout that they wanted to negotiate, because that hasn’t been the message at all over the last year,” said Justin Yost, who has worked in the utilities department for 14 years. “We are looking forward to getting back to work and doing our jobs to make sure our hospital runs safely.”

Union leaders and hospital officials are slated to meet in negotiations Thursday.

“We welcome our employees back after their union forced them to strike over the holidays, and are looking forward to seeing if the union will renew their commitment to negotiating in good faith,” said Ginger Plumbo, Mayo spokeswoman.

Yost said the negotiations will show whether Mayo’s “actions match their words.”

“We hope they will finally work to find a solution after a year of ‘my way or the highway’ talk that led up to our 1-day strike and their Christmas lockout, but even if they continue to put their profits over a fair contract, we are now more united than ever,” he said. “There is nothing that will stop us in our fight for a fair contract that provides good jobs and quality rural healthcare for our families, our patients and our community.”

The union represents certified nursing assistants, housekeepers, sterile processing workers and utilities and materials management workers.