Kaiser Permanente nurses and health care workers in the San Diego area will remain on picket lines as their open-ended strike alleging unfair labor practices amid prolonged contract talks enters it's fourth week.
The roughly 31,000 members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals vowed to stay on strike until a fair contract agreement is reached. UNAC/UHCP members include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and other specialty health care professionals.
"We're striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and because Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith over staffing that protects patients, workload standards that stop moral injury and the respect and dignity that Kaiser caregivers have been denied for far too long," said registered nurse Charmaine S. Morales, president of UNAC/UHCP.
"Striking is the lawful power of working people, and we are prepared to use it on behalf of our profession and patients," Morales said.
Kaiser Permanente issued a statement saying it has "proposed 21.5% wage increases -- our strongest national bargaining offer ever -- and we are prepared to close agreements at local tables now. Employees deserve their raises and patients deserve our full attention, not prolonged disputes."