"About 2,800 Kaiser nurse anesthetists, occupational, speech and physical therapists, and other professionals walked off the job at 7 a.m. Monday in Northern California. In the Bay Area, hundreds of workers flocked to picket lines at Kaiser hospitals in Oakland and Santa Clara, where they rang cowbells and brandished signs demanding increased pay and staffing. They're among more than 30,000 Kaiser employees striking in California and Hawaii."
"Workers counter that the health giant can afford to boost wages, and that patients are already suffering from long wait times and subpar care because Kaiser does not offer competitive pay. Negotiations have been stalled for months, and neither side appears close to backing down. Both sides say the strike will disrupt hospital operations. Kaiser notified patients over the weekend that nearly all of their hospitals and medical offices would remain open during the strike."
More than 30,000 Kaiser employees in California and Hawaii are on strike, including about 2,800 professionals who walked off in Northern California. Workers are demanding higher pay and better staffing and plan to remain on strike until an agreement is reached. Kaiser warns that the union's demands would make coverage less affordable. Workers argue Kaiser can afford wage increases and that current pay contributes to long waits and subpar care. Negotiations have been stalled for months and both sides expect operational disruption. Kaiser said hospitals, emergency rooms and pharmacies would remain open and is arranging temporary staffing while contacting patients if care is affected.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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