"An estimated 31,000 registered nurses and other front-line Kaiser Permanente health care workers went on strike Tuesday to demand better wages and staffing from the Oakland-based health care giant. Organizers say the five-day strike across 500 medical centers and offices in California, Hawaii and Oregon is the largest in the 50-year history of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals."
"Those on strike, including pharmacists, midwives and rehab therapists, say wages have not kept pace with inflation and there is not enough staffing to keep up with patient demand. They are asking for a 25% wage increase over four years to make up for wages they say are at least 7% behind their peers. Kaiser Permanente has countered with a 21.5% increase over four years."
An estimated 31,000 registered nurses and other frontline Kaiser Permanente health care workers went on strike across California, Hawaii and Oregon in a five-day action covering 500 medical centers and offices. The walkout could grow to include 46,000 people and includes pharmacists, midwives and rehab therapists. Strikers say wages have not kept pace with inflation and staffing is insufficient for patient demand, and they seek a 25% wage increase over four years. Kaiser Permanente offered a 21.5% increase and said represented employees earn about 16% more than peers. Clinics and hospitals will remain open with some virtual appointments and rescheduled elective procedures. Kaiser serves 12.6 million members at 600 medical offices and 40 hospitals.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]