Just days before a strike was set to start, management and the union representing healthcare workers at the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s hospital and facilities today agreed to step back from the brink. Instead of picket lines going up at the MPTF’s Wasserman Camus hospital in Woodlands Hills and other venues on Monday, the two sides will now have a cooling off period of two months and enter into new talks. The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West  has also consented to pull back on the unfair labor practices charges it brought against the MPTF earlier today in a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board. The SEIU-UHW represents around 500 nurses, their aides, medical-records workers and other caregivers at MPTF facilities. Read the joint statement released Friday by the MPTF and the SEIU-UHW here:

This afternoon, MPTF (Motion Picture and Television Fund) and the union representing certain of its employees, SEIU-UHW, jointly announced a 60-day cooling-off period during which time the two organizations will continue to negotiate in good faith toward a collective bargaining agreement. The announcement was made by Bob Beitcher, MPTF CEO, and Dave Regan, President of SEIU-UHW.

“I’m pleased we were able to reach this time out,” said Bob Beitcher, MPTF CEO. “After speaking at length with Dave, I feel more optimistic that the two sides can figure a way to reach a mutually satisfactory conclusion,” Beitcher continued. “I am confident that we can reach an agreement that will continue to make MPTF a great place to receive and deliver care,” Regan said.

SEIU-UHW has rescinded its intent to strike at MPTF for 3 days starting the evening of Monday, March 18th. Both parties have also agreed to withdraw their Unfair Labor Practice claims at this time. SEIU-UHW has also chosen to withdraw its bargaining proposal regarding Nurse Staffing levels.

Related: Enormous MPTF Executive Pay Exposed By Union

Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.